THE HISTORY
2009
685km | 14 623m
The race format changed , moving to looped stages that allowed for multiple days in one location . It was the shortest route yet , but without the need for transition stages between towns , the riding become more technical . Table Mountain featured on a short , sharp prologue , before the race moved to Villiersdorp and then Greyton , where some intense technical trails caught many unawares . Oak Valley was up next , where Wolfkloof and the Kogelberg Nature Reserve delivered treacherous riding over gnarly white rocks , before a final day over the mountains to Lourensford . A new team – South African Burry Stander riding with Christoph Sauser – came to the fore , winning the Prologue and the first three stages . But Stander smashed his front wheel on stage 4 to give the leaders jerseys to Karl Platt and Stefan Sahm ( Team Bulls ). In the women ’ s race , Briton Sharon Laws and Saffa Hanlie Booyens ( Absa Ladies ) repeated their 2004 success .
18 | MTB | 20 YEARS UNTAMED