Team NAD Pro wins dramatic Cape Pioneer Trek
Nico Bell and Gawie Combrinck of Team NAD Pro sealed a dramatic overall victory of the Cape Pioneer Trek that concluded on Saturday.
Igna de Villiers, who teamed up with Dalene van der Leek in die mix-category last year, were superior together with teammate Fanie Venter in the veteran’s category.
After seven days and 503 kilometres, Bell and Combrinck were able to secure victory in a total time 19 hours 12 minutes and 39 seconds.
“I was excited to race with Gawie after we won the race in 2012. Racing was close this year and we had to keep calm during testing situations. We worked well together and rode a tactical race which paid off for us. We are both very happy with the win and that we could make our sponsors, friends and family proud with this performance,”Bell said.
De Villiers and Venter (Team LGE Midas/Business Print) crossed the finish line in 21 hours 32 minutes and 47 seconds.
On Monday, stage 1 started and finished in Mossel Bay There was no place for diplomacy as Bell and Combrinck ripped the field apart with an aggressive victory that gave them the overall lead on day 2.
De Villiers and Venter also had a stage win.
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Peeter Pruus, the European marathon champion and Peeter Tarvis, the Estonian marathon champion of Team KOMO/RMW, clocked a winning time of 3 hours 45 minutes and 58 seconds for the 99 kilometre leg from Mossel Bay to George. They came within 13 seconds of the overall lead, held by Combrinck and Bell, who had to stop on numerous occasions due to tyre problems, but still managed to finish a somewhat desperate second in 3:46:53.
Iniel Hattingh and Vickus Boschoff (Klein Karoo Ko Op) grabbed the stage win just 38 seconds ahead of Venter and De Villiers. Although they showed some vulnerability on Tuesday, De Villiers and Venter remained the overall leaders by just over eight minutes.
Team NAD held a comfortable lead of 12:41 after stage 3.
Stage 4 saw Combrinck and Bell loose a chunk of their advantage when they endured mechanical problems, but still had a noticeable dent in the 10-plus-minute lead. Venter and De Villiers were 14 seconds back in third, but still held the overall lead by 6:38.
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Fittingly, Combrinck and Bell won the short 57 kilometres leg from Chandelier Game Reserve to Oudtshoorn, sealing overall victory in the process. They had endured more than their share of mechanical problems over the week, mostly tyre trouble, and were fortunate to complete the stage without a glitch.
The Veteran men’s division saw some close racing in certain stages, but ultimately De Villiers and Venter were superior, winning three stages and the overall race by 33 minutes.
“Hard work and commitment is the key to success. We are very chuffed with our overall first place and hope to defend our title next year,” De Villiers said.
