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The final two stages of the 2019 Cape Pioneer trek were filled with high mountains, cold weather and strong performances by the top teams. this is how the race came to it's conclusion on Saturday.
Low hanging clouds hung heavily over the Swartberg Mountains at the start of the fifth stage of the Momentum Health Cape Pioneer Trek presented by Biogen. The beast that is the Swartberg Pass was veiled in swirling mists and brooding storm clouds. But would soon be revealed to break wills but also bestow legendary status upon those whom stand victorious atop the pinnacle of this, the Queen stage.
The women’s race is quickly turning into a victory lap for Team Galileo Risk – LIV as they put on another masterclass today, leaving Team Dormakaba floundering in their wake once again. Ralph and Hill arrived at the summit of the Swartberg Pass as the undisputed queens of not only the stage but now most likely the race. Sanders and McDougall fought tooth and nail the whole way up the unrelenting mountainside but couldn’t do enough to reel the leaders back in. They retain second place however, with Seattle Coffee, Giliomee and Willeit, rounding out the podium both on the day and in the general classification.
Results:
UCI elite women
1. Theresa Ralph & Sarah Hill (Galileo Risk-Liv) 4:20:24 2. Samantha Sanders & Amy McDougall (dormakaba Ladies) 4:32:07 3. Nicky Giliomee & Cherise Willeit (Seattle Coffee Lovers) 4:43:17
GC
UCI elite women
1. Theresa Ralph & Sarah Hill (Galileo Risk-Liv) 22:05:52 2. Samantha Sanders & Amy McDougall (dormakaba Ladies) 22:36:14 3. Nicky Giliomee & Cherise Willeit (Seattle Coffee Lovers) 25:06:09
Stage 6
In the women’s race, Theresa Ralph and Sarah Hill crossed the finish line as the undisputed queens of the ‘Race with Soul’. It was a masterclass performance from the Galileo Risk – Liv pairing who practically made the past seven days a victory lap. “It was a hard seven days for me, and my legs only had just enough left in them to finish today’s stage. It makes it really satisfying to conquer a race like this though, and I couldn’t be prouder to have done it alongside Theresa,” said Hill. Despite battling with an injury, Dormakaba’s Sam Sanders made sure to end the event on a high note by taking the stage win with her teammate Amy McDougall today. “Sam underplayed how much pain she has been in over the last week. She was determined to finish the event though, and that’s everything I could ask for in a teammate,” said McDougall.
It was Seattle Coffee’s Nicky Giliomee and Cherise Willeit who rounded out the women’s podium both on the day and in the general classification.
Results
UCI elite women
1. Samantha Sanders & Amy McDougall (dormakaba Ladies) 3:00:28 2. Theresa Ralph & Sarah Hill (Galileo Risk-Liv) 3:05:12 3. Nicky Giliomee & Cherise Willeit (Seattle Coffee Lovers) 3:25:02 4. Janine Muller & Mari du Toit (Oakley) 3:31:32
General Classification
UCI elite women
1. Theresa Ralph & Sarah Hill (Galileo Risk-Liv) 25:11:04 2. Samantha Sanders & Amy McDougall (dormakaba Ladies) 25:36:42 3. Nicky Giliomee & Cherise Willeit (Seattle Coffee Lovers) 28:31:11 4. Janine Muller & Mari du Toit (Oakley) 30:56:24
Images by www.zcmc.co.za