Winners of the mixed pairs category DCM Cape Pioneer Trek Patrick Griessen and Ariane Luthi may not have been quite able to match the pace of third-place getters Christoph Sauser and Silvio Bundi, but the two pairs still have a close relationship to one another.
Griessen was Sauser’s mechanic from 2003 to 2005 but left the former world champion’s side to assist his father in the family’s Sputnik bike shop in Switzerland. His partnership with Luthi came about after she sought sponsorship from the shop. Griessen admitted that it was his former employer, Sauser, who suggested the two race together at the DCM Cape Pioneer.
“I always wanted to come and race in South Africa but when the Cape Epic is on, it is spring in Switzerland which means that we are quite busy in the bike shop.
“The DCM Cape Pioneer takes place in our winter, so it is perfect timing. This is certainly not the last time that I will be racing it,” Griessen said.
Luthi was a competitive swimmer and triathlete before turning her attention to mountain-bike races, while Griessen began racing in earnest after leaving the service of Sauser.
The pair won the mixed pairs competition after seeing off a concerted challenge from Kobus and Fienie Barnard. The latter had led the category for two stages, but lost huge time as Griessen and Luthi claimed victory on stage five. On Saturday’s final stage on the two pairs marked each other, with the leaders at the start of the day holding on for victory.
Johann Labuschagne and Yolandi de Villiers finished third overall in the mixed pairs category.