Now in its 13th edition, the seven-day Momentum Medical Scheme Cape Pioneer Trek, presented by Biogen mountain bike stage race provides the perfect mix of challenging riding, diverse scenery and classic Klein Karoo hospitality.
Known affectionately as the ‘Race with Soul’, the event – one of only three UCI stage races in South Africa – continues to attract some of the best talent on the global mountain biking circuit, with #TeamRed Biogen athlete and 2023 Absa Cape Epic champion, Kim Le Court confirmed in what is a stacked UCI elite women’s field.
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Attracting top talent
Riding for Efficient Insure Infiniti Racing, Le Court will look to defend her title at the race, who will partner former South African marathon champion Samantha Sanders in 2023.
Le Court and Sanders’ strongest competition for the pink First Ascent leaders’ jerseys could likely come from Enduroplanet’s Yolande de Villiers and Stephanie Wohlters. The pair won three stages last year and wore the first leaders’ jerseys after the Prologue, before the Efficient Insure Infiniti team established a commanding lead with dominant victories on stages 1 and 2.
Among the men, the highly competitive field will include defending champions, Marco Joubert and Pieter du Toit, though not as a team. Despite this, team Imbuko Giant will aim to reclaim their title.
They will not only be up against the Insect Science and Valley Electrical Titan Racing teams, whom they bested in 2022. However; they will also have to contend with the young upstarts Justin Chesterton and Kai von During. In 2023, Joubert will partner Wessel Botha rather, with the assistance of Rudi Koen and du Toit in the fight for the yellow First Ascent leaders’ jerseys.
Runners-up from last year from team Insect Science, Arno du Toit and Keagan Bontekoning, have Alan Gordon and Herman Fourie for support.
Gert Heyns joins Matthew Keyser, who finished fourth last year alongside HB Kruger, and is eager to improve. They, will also have the support of a second Valley Electrical Titan Racing team to call upon. Rossouw Bekker will once again call upon the Bike Shop Plett’s professional stage race freelancer, Rogan Smart to team up in aid of Heyns and Keyser.
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Spectacular race routes
Taking place from the 3-9 September, the route will feature 472 km of racing with 10 850 m of climbing. Starting in the Garden Route capital, George, at Glenwood House, the opening day features a Prologue time trial before Stage 1 explores the forest single-tracks of the Outeniqua Mountains in greater depth.
Stage 2 traverses those mountains, ascending into the Langkloof via the historic nearly 180-year-old Montagu Pass.
Once in the fertile valley the racing then explores the northern slopes of the Outeniqua Mountain range and the foothills of the infamous Kammanassie, on Stage 3, before flirting with the Kammanassie once more en route to Oudtshoorn on Stage 4.
The Queen Stage boasts the country’s only mountain-top finish, at the summit of the Swartberg Pass.
After six spectacular days, the race draws to a close with a final stage of pure mountain biking satisfaction in the Klein Karoo on Saturday, 9 September. Taking to the rocky jeep tracks through the wildlife-filled hillocks and vales of Chandelier Game Reserve provides a final celebration to cap the Race with Soul.
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Limited entries still available
A limited number of entries are still available to the 2023 Race with Soul. Entrants can expect to enjoy the spectacular and diverse scenery of the route while engaging in the racing action, and indulging in the superb catering for which Dryland Event Management stage races are famous.
Those who cannot take a full week off work, or who are not quite ready for a seven-day stage race, can enter the four-day Adventure.
It joins the race on stage 3, at Louvain, and follows the same route as the Race for the next four stages. Entries close on 18 August.
To share in the excitement building up to the 2023 race, like the Momentum Medical Scheme Cape Pioneer Trek, presented by Biogen, Facebook page or follow @CapePioneerTrek on Twitter and @capepioneer on Instagram. For more information or to enter the thirteenth edition visit www.capepioneer.co.za.
