The 2014 Bridge Cape Pioneer Trek was on another level. Dryland are famous for looking after all their riders like they’re pro’s. Their food is legendary, their water points ensure you’ll wasting time enjoying tasty treats, their routes are challenging and rewarding in equal parts, and their warm Karoo hospitality encapsulates every event they host.
But the Bridge Cape Pioneer Trek has for five years just been seen as another big SA stage race. On a similar level in aspirational terms to a few others. The 2014 edition changed that. Maybe it was the UCI status that created a bigger hype, or maybe it was just the coming of age of an event that’s long been world class but never quite got the recognition it deserved.
In its 6th year the Bridge Cape Pioneer Trek encountered a rocky start with its title sponsor, Bridge, applying for business rescue earlier in the year. But with the prize money confirmed early in October the race was on and once the teams reached the Klein Karoo the show was world class.
Is the Pioneer now on the same level as the ABSA Cape Epic? Is it better than the Epic? One thing is for sure the Epic have reasons to be worried and if the whispers coming from their side are to be confirmed (the 2015 Epic route launches on the 22nd of October), they’re stepping up their game for next year too. And you can be sure Dryland will continue to push the Cape Pioneer to new heights!
If 2014 was our best MTB year – hold onto your chamois – 2015 is sure to top it!
Our Bridge Cape Pioneer highlight:
The Twitter battle to make the pivotal race updating tweet between Team RECM’s Kandice Buys and tweeter-for-hire Oliver Munnik who ran the @BridgeCPT handle for Dryland was classic. Bigshot Media, Gerald de Kock, Oakpics and Zoon Cronje were all on top of their games. The ding-dong battle between Team Bulls and Scott Factory Racing was scintillating. And James Reid’s Swartberg Showdown implosion was as heart-breaking as Matthys Beukes and Robyn De Groot’s GC hope ending punctures. But our highlight of the 2014 Bridge Cape Pioneer Trek was Raoul de Jongh’s daily Urban Ninja race updates. If you haven’t read them yet do yourself a favour and give them a read.
Here they are, just click on the photo to read each day’s report to visit www.urban-ninja.co.za to read them all in once go.
