Christoph Sauser has played down his expectations for next week’s DCM Cape Pioneer Tour but will still start the race on Monday in South Africa as a favourite for the event.
The Swiss rider won a stage last year with then-teammate Bobby Behan, en route to a fourth place overall finish for the pair. The 2007 world marathon Champion will be joined by compatriot Silvio Bundi for the event this year, but pointed out on his website that he is – officially at least – on holidays.
“South Africa hosts many mountain bike stage races and the Cape Pioneer was such a relaxed event over six days in the Klein Karoo. The comradeship was awesome, and we had so much to laugh and joke about,” he wrote. “The fact that some of the stages were long, windy and rocky, made the rest of the time even better. The race was superbly organized by Dryland, who created a pleasant family atmosphere,”
Sauser’s reunion with Bundi will create one of the strongest teams in the race. The two have a strong track record racing together in South Africa, with the 2006 Cape Epic title to their credit.
The 2010 DCM Cape Pioneer Trek begins in Oudtshoorn on Monday, October 18 and finishes in the same location on Saturday, October 23.