T-1hr until riders tackles the Swartberg for a 2nd time in the #SwartbergSequel. #Anotherdayanotherclimbonthepioneer. An exciting development for today’s #SwartbergSequel … A prize purse of R25k has been raised for 1st man & women to reach the summit! Prize money will be awarded to 3rd for those who reach the Swartberg summit, 17km into the stage: 1st- R15 000 2nd – R7 000 3rd – R3 000. Let the fireworks begin on the #SwartbergSequel The stage starts at 07:30 this morning.
T-7min to start, leader jerseys are lining up for the #SwartbergSequel . R25k up for graps at the summit!! Signal’s going to be an issue on the Prince Albert side of the Swartberg. We may be forced to wait at the top and hope for 3G #signalhunting. To clarify, today’s Swartberg ascent is up the Prince Albert side… Riders will first roll through the iconic poort. Lock ‘n load in T-1min Warm in Prince Albert, reports of freezing temperatures at the Swartberg Summit.
It’s been real Prince Albert, we’re outta here! We have a mountain to climb! 10km in, Team SCOTT LCB 2 attack … Very very early effort. They have 50s on lower slopes at 12km mark. Through magnificent Poort, gap to Team SCOTT LCB 2 reduced to 44s. Team KMC-Mitsubishi-Koga leading the chase. As gradient kicks up Team SCOTT LCB 2’s Arno de Toit begins to suffer, gap coming down 13km in, gap down to 00:15 , Crisi brothers have taken over the chase from Team KMC-Mitsubishi-Koga. Chasers now splintering. Crisi brothers now lead Team SCOTT LCB 1 and Team SCOTT LCB 2 are off by 00:05, Team Jeep 00:10 and Team KMC 00:20.
15km in; that would be Team Jeep ‘stonking’ on the pedals. As in throwing down some watts. Really battling with signal. 1km from the summit Team SCOTT LCB 1 feeds it to the Crisi brothers. The Crisi brothers gave it everything, they’ll have to settle for 2nd today, and a R7k payday #bravoragazzi.
Don’t forget the Swartberg pass is only the first challenge today, riders still new to ride a further 80kms. Descending the Swartberg is proving to be rather spicy #cloudsfordays. Piet and I are now red lining to catch the leaders #ilovemyjob
At 40km mark Leading ladies, Team Sasol Racing, have 00:50 on Team Ascendis who look strong. Both are in groups.
48km mark , Team SCOTT LCB 2 they’re 5th on the road. 52km in, Team Asrin have just latched back on to the lead group: Team SCOTT LCB 1, Team KCM and Crisi bros. Gap to Team Jeep 1:01.
53km in,they’re now 5 th on road At WP2. Team Asrin are pinned, 1min ahead of Team SCOTT LCB 1 and Team KCMand Crisi Brothers. Incredible racing. 55km in Riders have a long gravel road section ahead through a beautiful valley. Signal will be horrific. We’ll have to meet them on the other side.
67km in Team Asrin are charging. Gap to yellow jerseys; Team KCM and Crisi brothers now up to 2:02. Go go go!
65km mark: Women’s Team Sasol racing have a 1:35 gap on Team Ascendis who are chasing hard We are now having to take a massive detour, please bare with me for updates. Riders most likely closing in to the 70km mark now. The SwartBerg takes your breath away each and every time #SwartbergSequel.
We are at 20km to go mark. Waiting for leaders. Will Team Asrin still have the lead?! After a brave long range attack, Team Asrin win stage 5 into Calitzdorp #SwartbergSequel. 4th are a jubilant Team Jeep, while yellow jersey wearers Team SCOTT LCB 1 come home in 5th #jerseysecure.
Fullblast on Swartberg, conservative on the rocky bits- Team SCOTT LCB 1 win the cash prize and secure yellow on stage 5. Team Sasol Racing consolidate their overall lead, winning today’s 106km Stage 5 #SwartbergSequel. Chasing is not for sissies! Team Ascendis did it all day long finishing 04:40 behind Sasol Ladies.

Riders make their way to Prins Albert during stage 4 of the 2015 Cape Pioneer Trek between De Rust and Prins Albert. Photo by Ewald Sadie