Kleinhaus and Kritzinger keep control of the GC

"We attacked and we attacked, and we attacked ourselves 'stukkend'," said Donovan Jackson in his take on the penultimate stage of the Cape Pioneer Trek mountain bike stage race in the Southern Cape. The surviving riders, a majority, raced a long, 113km journey from Uniondale to George in stage 5.

It was hot up front, literally and figuratively. General classification leaders Eric Kleinhans and Johnny Kritzinger (Memory Foundation-New Heights) kept control on the climbs and acknowledged that the repetitive attacks by the Tread Team might have been a mistake. The Squirt men, including Lieb Loots and Cornelius Muller, were third on the stage and stayed in the same spot on the general classification with Loots continuing to offer his impressive age, 53, as an unconvincing excuse for not having done even better. He's tired, and so is everyone else.

Fienie Barnard and Esther Lategan (Landmark), who have the women's category sewn up, were out for an impressive 6:10:17 and looked cool and unrushed at the finish in spite of the day's heat and humidity.

Specialized-Songo's Christoph Sauser and Bobby Behan had "technicals" again. The Swiss former world champion had a flat at the same time, his manager, Behan was feeling the long anticipated energy decline associated with his hectic travel schedule in the weeks before the start of the race. He was, nevertheless delighted with his performance under those trying circumstances. For most of the riders, just being in the same event as someone like Sauser has been a special privilege. The Specialized men have proven to be very approachable - a highlight of a race that has generally been as memorable for its across-the-board personal interaction as for the hardships and scenic beauty.

Seesawing continued in the mixed category. Peter Stopforth took a bit of a tumble and he and his famously competitive wife Ischen lost more time and the general classification lead to Petrus Malherbe and Janneke Leask of Schwinn, who finished in 5:00:56.The Stopforths (of team Marsillio Projects) are now almost 10 minutes off. The Schwinn phenomenon was fourth overall today. They had 11 minutes on that Sludge express-steam-train of Linus van Onselen and Brian Strauss.

Veterans Gus Klohn and Marc Wiederkehr (Infradev Dunkeld Cycles) were closer to those Sludge Masters and were comfortably ahead of sponsor Toyota's veteran challengers John Thomson and Duncan Bowman.

At the picturesque Eagle Falls, where all the riders waded through the meter-deep water, the top teams were bunched and in the (prayed for) absence of wind, it was starting to become uncomfortably hot and humid though most of the participants seemed much happier than yesterday.

Some of the more miserable "victims of yesterday's hard slog through the Kamanassie were full of smiles today. The motto of the Uniondale High School - the race village " for this stage - is "Dade nie woorde nie" and the middle and backmarkers lived up to that, clearly resolved to stay sensible and pace themselves and their tired legs over the moderately uphill second half of the route.

Two mixed teams worthy of special mention and both with Stellenbosch connections are Masters Paul Morris and Fran Ferreira (Zero Rush), famous singletrack wizards; and Riaan Boshoff and the exquisite Hannelie Steyn Kotze who is making a very impressive and very welcome comeback. Both teams have been up at the sharp end of the action.

The bail-out rate, for a field has been high with more than 45 team riders abandoning by today. 150 remain for the final stage which is a shorter 87km. It will go up the spectacular Montagu Pass and back to Oudtshoorn. Short as it is, there is still room for dramatic changes in the racing.

Results

Swipe to scroll horizontally
Men's teams
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Erik Kleinhans - Johnny Kritzinger (Memory Foundation-New Heights-Womf)4:44:53
2Donovan Jackson - Roan Exelby (Tread Magazine)0:02:10
3Lieb Loots - Cornelius Muller (Squirt )0:02:19
4Nico Verhoef - Cobus Barnard (Memory Foundation - Velotex)0:25:19
5Christoph Sauser - Bobby Behan (Specialized-Songo)0:33:06
6Kris Broekaert - Marco Glastra (Lowlands)0:42:27
7Gert Muller - Wayne Jelliman (E T S)0:45:19
8Andre Ferreira - Lawrence Lindeque (E A Sports)1:13:03
9Wayne Rebello - Dwayne Klingbiel (Whoknows)1:14:46
10Jan Havenga - Quintin Myburgh (Helly Hansen Buds)1:39:57
11Niel Rossouw - Nico Nieuwoudt (Byers Security)1:52:35
12Willem Botha - Danie Van Aswegen (Virtuoso )2:18:45
13Neill Leith - Jacov Lalou (Wooden Spoons)2:20:59
14Dirk Jooste - M J Vermeulen (Seekoeigat Sluipers)2:47:21
15Allen Harris - Ralton Roebert (The Bolt And The Nut)2:48:00
16Pieter-Jan Alberts - Stuart Anderson (Limelight 2)2:51:47
17Stephen Steyn - Henk Pepler (Green Machine )2:56:41
18Martin Ciolkosz - Dennis Nathrass (Nxgen)3:09:58
19Rudi Janse Van Vuuren - Etienne Ebden (E M E)3:10:52
20Jacques Swart - Wessel Van Der Merwe (The Incredibles)3:29:30
21Greg Lind - Leighton Ashmead (Olympians)4:27:43
22Ulendo Roode - Maartin Van Rensburg (I D C - Ride Life)4:47:55
DNFSchalk Louw - J C Louw (Team Contego)Row 22 - Cell 2
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Women's teams
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Fienie Barnard - Esther Lategan (Landmark)6:10:07
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Mixed teams
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Petrus Malherbe - Janneke Leask (Schwinn)5:00:56
2Peter Stopforth - Ischen Stopforth (Marsilio Projects Mixed)0:12:21
3Chris Van Zyl - Elmien Stander (Cape Town Mixed)0:33:36
4Riaan Boshoff - Hannele Steyn-Kotze (Sludge Mixed)0:33:37
5Derek Morgan - Julia Skea (The Pioneers)1:09:36
6Gerhard Ebersohn - Christine Jansen Van Rensburg (G C)1:16:19
7Anthony Avidon - Ingrid Avidon (E P X)2:00:16
8Ronel Ferreira - Robert Mcintosh (Progressive Wealth)2:34:55
9Bernie Van Niekerk - Mariette Van Niekerk (Molly & Wors)2:55:47
10Johan Bornman - Marlize Moolman (L A Sport-T J M Mixed)3:10:07
11Kevin Record - Vanessa Record (Boerin & Pom)3:23:07
12Annie Labuscagne - Lance Solms (Flying Pigs)4:27:47
DNFFelicia Kloet - Lance Morel (Dirt Riders)Row 12 - Cell 2
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Veteran teams
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Gus Klohn - Marc Wiederkehr (Infradev Dunkeld Cycles)5:19:22
2John Thomson - Duncan Bowman (Team Toyota)0:15:27
3Temlett Hockey - Anthony De Jager (Paarl Pioneers)0:29:09
4Thomas Babl - Charl Du Plessis (Hugenote Fietse)0:42:01
5Henry Angove - Gavin Robinson (Tuff Nuts)1:03:14
6Angus Boxshall-Smith - Warren Lane (Double Diesel)1:27:01
7Mark Kingon - Gary Krull (The Heboths)1:33:39
8Jaco Liebenberg - Eric Marshall (Limelight)2:17:47
9Allen Liversage - Anton Bekker (T Z N (Team Zonder Naam])2:18:16
10John Miller - Johan Swartz (Rough Riders)2:50:27
11Lionel Lewis - Frans De Beer (L A Sport-T J M)3:08:02
12Thom Spies - Tess De Wet (Spies)4:17:39
DNFHeinrich Nolan - Zaldeus Steenkamp (Team Soyo)Row 12 - Cell 2
DNFBen De Lange - Donovan Mcshane (The Team)Row 13 - Cell 2
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Master men's teams
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Brian Strauss - Linus Van Onselen (Sludge)5:11:56
2Paul Morris - Fran Ferreira (Zero Rush)1:17:20
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Solo men
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Robert Du Preez8:30:06
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Solo women
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Nolene Saunders7:09:37
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Individuals (men and women)
#Rider Name (Country) Team
1David Pienaar
2Gareth Jones
3Deon Carstens
4Tinkie De Kock
5Marius Van Der Sandt
6Chris Herbst
7Philip Viljoen
8Bruce Dickson
9Stephen Thompson
10Koos Du Plessis
11Colin Bouwer
12Anton De Waal
13Pieter Breytenbach
14Stephan Grobler
15Henry Fagan
16Bernard Le Roux
17Johan Botha
18Brian Gelling
19Colin Myers
20Deon Cilliers
21Wynand Mulder
22Johan Labuschagne
23Louiza Swartz
24Rohan Kennedy
25Barbara Hage
26Henning Blaauw
DNFJohan De Kock
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Men's teams general classification after stage 5
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Erik Kleinhans - Johnny Kritzinger (Memory Foundation-New Heights-Womf)24:14:45
2Donovan Jackson - Roan Exelby (Tread Magazine)0:11:14
3Lieb Loots - Cornelius Muller (Squirt )0:14:55
4Christoph Sauser - Bobby Behan (Specialized-Songo)1:57:21
5Nico Verhoef - Cobus Barnard (Memory Foundation - Velotex)1:58:53
6Gert Muller - Wayne Jelliman (E T S)4:41:57
7Kris Broekaert - Marco Glastra (Lowlands)5:23:05
8Andre Ferreira - Lawrence Lindeque (E A Sports)6:00:49
9Wayne Rebello - Dwayne Klingbiel (Whoknows)7:17:46
10Jan Havenga - Quintin Myburgh (Helly Hansen Buds)9:42:13
11Niel Rossouw - Nico Nieuwoudt (Byers Security)9:56:01
12Willem Botha - Danie Van Aswegen (Virtuoso )11:21:53
13Neill Leith - Jacov Lalou (Wooden Spoons)11:43:29
14Stephen Steyn - Henk Pepler (Green Machine )13:21:30
15Allen Harris - Ralton Roebert (The Bolt And The Nut)14:44:25
16Pieter-Jan Alberts - Stuart Anderson (Limelight 2)15:22:06
17Martin Ciolkosz - Dennis Nathrass (Nxgen)15:25:05
18Dirk Jooste - M J Vermeulen (Seekoeigat Sluipers)16:27:49
19Rudi Janse Van Vuuren - Etienne Ebden (E M E)18:54:43
20Jacques Swart - Wessel Van Der Merwe (The Incredibles)20:50:11
21Ulendo Roode - Maartin Van Rensburg (I D C - Ride Life)21:27:25
22Greg Lind - Leighton Ashmead (Olympians)22:38:44
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Women's teams general classification after stage 5
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Fienie Barnard - Esther Lategan (Landmark)28:53:48
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Mixed teams general classification after stage 5
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Petrus Malherbe - Janneke Leask (Schwinn)26:18:55
2Peter Stopforth - Ischen Stopforth (Marsilio Projects Mixed)0:09:50
3Riaan Boshoff - Hannele Steyn-Kotze (Sludge Mixed)2:20:15
4Chris Van Zyl - Elmien Stander (Cape Town Mixed)3:33:34
5Derek Morgan - Julia Skea (The Pioneers)4:59:50
6Gerhard Ebersohn - Christine Jansen Van Rensburg (G C)6:06:27
7Anthony Avidon - Ingrid Avidon (E P X)10:46:42
8Ronel Ferreira - Robert Mcintosh (Progressive Wealth)12:50:05
9Bernie Van Niekerk - Mariette Van Niekerk (Molly & Wors)13:27:11
10Johan Bornman - Marlize Moolman (L A Sport-T J M Mixed)14:58:13
11Kevin Record - Vanessa Record (Boerin & Pom)16:05:10
12Annie Labuscagne - Lance Solms (Flying Pigs)21:02:15
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Veterans teams general classification after stage 5
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Gus Klohn - Marc Wiederkehr (Infradev Dunkeld Cycles)28:10:49
2Temlett Hockey - Anthony De Jager (Paarl Pioneers)0:45:18
3John Thomson - Duncan Bowman (Team Toyota)1:08:25
4Thomas Babl - Charl Du Plessis (Hugenote Fietse)1:42:53
5Angus Boxshall-Smith - Warren Lane (Double Diesel)5:17:00
6Henry Angove - Gavin Robinson (Tuff Nuts)6:54:17
7Mark Kingon - Gary Krull (The Heboths)7:27:55
8Jaco Liebenberg - Eric Marshall (Limelight)7:49:16
9Allen Liversage - Anton Bekker (T Z N (Team Zonder Naam])11:39:54
10John Miller - Johan Swartz (Rough Riders)12:48:10
11Lionel Lewis - Frans De Beer (L A Sport-T J M)14:52:34
12Thom Spies - Tess De Wet (Spies)17:06:19
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Master men's teams general classification after stage 5
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Brian Strauss - Linus Van Onselen (Sludge)26:39:00
2Paul Morris - Fran Ferreira (Zero Rush)7:44:52
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Solo men general classification after stage 5
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1De Wet Marais31:01:30
2Carlo Gonzaga4:56:48
3Carl Trieloff5:07:11
4Barry Pauw5:21:28
5Thys Benson6:24:13
6Nolene Saunders6:46:04
7Robert Du Preez10:45:15
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Individuals general classification (men and women) after stage 5
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Johan Labuschagne25:28:41
2Wynand Mulder1:04:35
3Rohan Kennedy1:24:19
4Deon Cilliers2:50:15
5Colin Myers4:14:34
6Henning Blaauw4:54:57
7Brian Gelling5:27:47
8Henry Fagan5:59:03
9Colin Bouwer10:06:25
10Bernard Le Roux10:29:59
11Stephan Grobler11:40:21
12Johan Botha13:27:36
13Bruce Dickson13:55:39
14Anton De Waal14:25:44
15Koos Du Plessis14:28:45
16Chris Herbst14:30:08
17Philip Viljoen14:49:21
18Pieter Breytenbach15:15:32
19Stephen Thompson15:25:17
20Marius Van Der Sandt17:34:56
21Gareth Jones17:46:00
22David Pienaar18:57:12
23Deon Carstens19:39:07
24Tinkie De Kock19:51:02
25Louiza Swartz20:00:48
26Barbara Hage23:26:56

Thank you for reading 5 articles in the past 30 days*

Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read any 5 articles for free in each 30-day period, this automatically resets

After your trial you will be billed £4.99 $7.99 €5.99 per month, cancel anytime. Or sign up for one year for just £49 $79 €59

Join now for unlimited access

Try your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

Latest on Cyclingnews