It was Moolman Pasio’s fourth consecutive win in as many weeks, following victories at the Pick n Pay The Star Fast One, the Berge en Dale Super Classic and the VW EP Herald Classic.

The Ninety Niner was contested over a slightly different route this year with the distance increased from 99km to 108km. The Elite women started with the Veteran men’s group and as expected the race-deciding split came on the steep, 3.5km-long Vissershok climb just before the 100km point.

Moolman Pasio and her Biogen Toyota teammate Anriette Schoeman crested the summit together ahead of Swedish national champion, Jennie Stenerhag (Alpha Pharm). Stenerhag managed to close the gap to the leaders on the descent, but wasn’t able to rejoin them before they started the final kilometre, a stiff ascent to the finish line.

Moolman Pasio is a strong climber and she moved clear of Schoeman in the final half-a-kilometre to clinch the victory in 2hrs 54min 53sec. Schoeman finished 15 seconds later to secure a one-two for Biogen Toyota, while Stenerhag rounded out the podium places in 2:55:31.

Leading results:
1 Ashleigh Moolman Pasio (Biogen Toyota, RSA) 2hr54min53sec
2 Anriette Schoeman (Biogen Toyota, RSA) 2:55:08
3 Jenny Stenerhag (Alpha Pharm, SWE) 2:55:31
4 Yolandi du Toit (Bizhub, RSA) 2:55:52
5 Lise Olivier (Natro, RSA) 2:56:21
6 Catherine Williamson (Bizhub, ENG) 2:56:21
7 Karien van Jaarsveld(Natro, RSA) 2:56:39
8 Jade Roberts(Bizhub, RSA) 2:56:43
9 Jennifer Hohl (Bizhub, SUI) 2:57:02
10 Heletjie van Staden (RSA) 2:58:28

PHOTO Captions:
Ashleigh Moolman Pasio leads teammate Anriette Schoeman over the summit of Vissershok on their way to first and second places respectively at the Ninety Niner in Durbanville at the weekend.

Women’s podium (from left): Anriette Schoeman (second), Ashleigh Moolman Pasio (first) and Jennie Stenerhag (third).