Hunter takes first day at Giro del Capo

• Wednesday, 4 March 2009
• Luke Edwardes-Evans
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Robbie Hunter won the first race of South Africa’s PPA Cape Argus Giro del Capo Challenge today, a 106km haul to and from Wellington.

The South African sprinter headed home a group of 12 riders who had reformed on the windy run-in to Wellington after a hectic finale up the climb of Bains Kloof Pass with 16km to go.

Also in the group were team Rapha pairing and top British finishers Kristian House and Simon Richardson, placing eighth and ninth.

Hunter’s Barloworld team mate Stephen Cummings took second in the bunch sprint, 13 seconds behind the breakaway.

Fellow Brit Chris Newton (Rapha-Condor) was 31st, at 2-21. With a five per cent cut-off due to its single-day race status, this meant that none of the riders placed below 69th were classified out of the 163 finishers.

Tomorrow’s race two is a 143km three-lap race based around Durbanville.

The three days of racing precede the Cape Argus Pick 'n' Pay Cycle Tour sportive on Sunday, March 8. We will be bringing you further reports from the challenge races and the mass participation ride.

Cape Argus Giro Del Capo day one: Results
1. Robert Hunter (RSA) Barloworld
2. Christoff Van Heerden (RSA) MTN
3. Johann Rabie (RSA) Neotel
4. Felix Cardenas (Col) Barloworld
5. Henning Bommel (Ger) Germany
6. Stefan Ganser (Ger) Kuota-Indeland
7. Roger Kluge (Ger) Germany
8. Kristian House (GB) Rapha-Condor
9. Simon Richardson (GB) Rapha-Condor
10. Jay Thomson (RSA) MTN all at same time.
Other British
14. Stephen Cummings (GB) Barloworld at 13 secs
31. Chris Newton (GB) Rapha-Condor at 2-21

EXTERNAL LINK
Giro del Capo: www.girodelcapo.co.za