Some epic scenery awaits the 250 participants who will take on the 2010 DCM Cape Pioneer Trek
The DCM Cape Pioneer Trek will get underway in South Africa on Monday with a number of strong pairings confirmed in the 250-strong field.
South African riders Kevin Evans, Max Knox, Jacques Janse van Rensburg and Brandon Stewart will be joined at the race in Southern Cape by a host of international stars including Christoph Sauser, Silvio Bundi, Adrien Niyonshuti and Thomas Zahnd.
The various pairings between the top riders will create an exciting contest for the six-day race. Of the favourites, Janse van Rensberg and Stewart will represent the only all-local pair. Sauser will team-up with Bundi, Evans will Join Niyonshuti, while Knox will pair with ABSA Cape Epic stage winner Zahnd.
“I think the first stage, which will be basically the same as the Attakwas ultra-marathon, will suit Zahnd to a tee,” said Knox of his teammate.
Knox faces a busy programme of racing over the next ten days. He and Stewart are currently racing to defend their 2009 title at the Three Towers Tour, which ends on Sunday. The two will then go their separate ways for the Cape Pioneer Trek and the Klein Karoo, which gets underway on October 25.
“We are certainly going to race to achieve top results but in mountain biking, especially tours, nothing can be taken for granted,” said Stewart of his own expectations for the next week. “On any given day so many things could effectively end your tour if you don’t stay focused.”
Sauser will be keen to avenge his defeat at the Roc Marathon in France last weekend. Race organisers had rumored that he may pair with trade teammate Burry Stander for the event, but with the South African sitting out the race he will instead be joined by compatriot Bundi.
Evans and Niyonshuti are expected to put in a strong showing. The latter is using the event as preparation for his home road tour, the Tour of Rwanda, which he won in 2008. Evans told race organisers earlier this month that he the two have tempered their own expectations for the event.
“I was actually not planning to do the tour, but when Adrien asked me if I would ride with him I could not refuse,” Evans said.
“It’s a really hard a tour therefore I think it would be wise to start out conservatively and see how things develop. If our legs hold up and an opportunity to win overall arrise we will certainly be going for it.”