The Rocky Mountain-RSA Web team's time of 3:10:11 over the final 80km was two seconds faster than that of stage-one winners Timo Cooper and Adriaan Louw (Bridge), who had relinquished their overall lead the previous day. Billy Stelling and Rob Dormehl (V&A Market on the Wharf) finished third on the day in 3:15:17.
Groustra and Gathof completed the third edition of the 300km race in an aggregate time of 12:18:59. Cooper and Louw, with an overall time of 12:27:46, were more than eight minutes behind after mechanical trouble had effectively sealed their fate on the second stage. Neil Bradford and Tim Osrin (Harvest Foundation) rounded out the podium in 12:55:43.
Their lead of close to nine minutes going into the final day had put the pressure firmly on Cooper and Louw. The latter rose to the challenge and turned up the heat within the first 10km on Phantom Pass, but Groustra and Gathof were able to match them all the way to the summit. The two teams stayed together until Louw initiated a breakaway on the big Hydro climb 30km into the race. Cooper and Louw opened up a 40-second gap on the climb but a patient Groustra and Gathof reeled them in shortly thereafter.
In the women's race, an under-the-weather Ischen Stopforth and on-form partner Yolande de Villiers relied on their first two stage wins to secure overall victory in 14:04:35. Cathering Williamson and Nicci Grobler (bizhub) claimed second overall in 14:25:12, with Janine King and Jackie Moore (Salomon) third in 15:26:47. Final day honours went to Williamson and Grobler in 3:31:26, with Stopforth and De Villiers second in 3:31:26. King and Moore placed a distant third in 3:50:22.
Hannele Steyn and Charl du Plessis (Howard & Chamberlain) were unchallenged in the mixed category. They took the fast and furious final stage in 3:36:50. They were followed by Lindi Dorfling and Graeme van der Nest (Merrell) in 3:50:09 and Tanja and Jon Oosthuyse (Totally Stoked) in 4:03:48.
The teams occupied the same positions on the general classification.
Overall results
Men:
1. Daniel Gathof and Renay Groustra (Rocky Mountain-RSA Web) 12:18:59; 2. Timo Cooper and Adriaan Louw (Bridge) 12:27:46; 3. Neil Bradford and Tim Osrin (The Harvest Foundation) 12:55:43; 4. Scott Mckenzie and Warren Squires (Complete Cyclist Masters) 13:16:13; 5. Billy Stelling and Rob Dormehl (V&A Market on the Wharf) 13:19:14.
Women:
1. Yolande de Villiers and Ischen Stopforth (Privateer) 14:04:35; 2. Catherine Williamson and Nicci Grobler (bizhub) 14:25:12; 3. Janine King and Jackie Moore (Salomon) 15:26:47; 4. Janet Keet and Junita Kruger (Decking Solutions) 17:39:17; 5. Janie van Rensburg and Marzanne Kriel (26 Inch) 17:41:02.
Mixed:
1. Hannele Steyn and Charl du Plessis (Howard and Chamberlain) 14:44:32; 2. Lindi Dorfling and Graeme van der Nest (Merrell Mixed) 15:37:07; 3. Tanja Oosthuyse and Jon Oosthuyse (Totally Stoked) 16:02:24; 4. Natalie Robbs and Angus Alexander (Mean and Lean) 16:42:29; 5. Amanda Brooks and Robert Vogel (Hansgrohe Mixed) 4:07:51.
