Matthys Beukes is racing the 2018 Absa Cape Epic with PYGA Euro Steel teammate Julian Jessop after Philip Buys was forced to withdraw due to illness. The pair is currently fighting to win the Absa African classification and after the stage 5 time trial, they seem to have a firm grasp on the red jersey.
Matthys Beukes and Philip Buys had a stellar season racing the Pyga Stage in 2017, winning most of the races they entered including the African jersey at the Absa Cape Epic. This year they’ve got a new colour frame, racing the black and white design available on the retail bikes.
The Pyga Euro Steel team deck their Stage’s out with SRAM components including a XX1 Eagle drivetrain, RockShox suspension, and Level Ultimate brakes. Matthys races on a 38 tooth chainring with a Quarq spider power meter on an XX1 crank. He also uses a custom 3D printed chain guide manufactured by Rapid 3D in Pietermaritzburg, who also assist Pyga with printing models during their bike frame development process. The bottom bracket is sourced from Enduro’s TorqTite range.
The team race on Deed Propel carbon rims. The rims spin on Deed hubs with Enduro ceramic bearings for smoother rotation. Matthys is rolling on 2.25″ wide Maxxis Aspen tyres front and back, a fairly popular choice in the Cape Epic camps.
Matthys’s cockpit features Ritchey WCS handlebar, stem, and seat post. The handlebars are 720 mm wide with the stem measuring 110 mm with a 17-degree angle. He sits on a Selle Italia saddle and drives power through a set of Look X-Track pedals.
Matthys appears to take the risk of tyre mechanicals seriously with a Liqui Moly tyre fix, plugs taped to the handlebar, a packed saddle bag, as well as a hand pump.
Specification list:
- FramePyge Stage (Large size)
- ForkRockShox SID
- ShockRockShox Monarch
- RimsDeed Propel
- HubsDeed with Enduro ceramic bearings
- TyresMaxxis Aspen 2.25
- HandlebarRitchey WCS carbon 720mm
- GripsSyncros
- StemRitchey WCS 110 mm
- HeadsetCane Creek
- SeatpostRitchey WCS carbon
- SaddleSella Italia Flite
- BrakesSRAM Level Ultimate
- Brake rotorSRAM CLX 160mm
- ShiftersSRAM XX1 Eagle
- Rear derailleurSRAM XX1 Eagle
- CassetteSRAM XX1 Eagle 10-50T
- Crank armsSRAM XX1
- ChainringSRAM 38T
- ChainSRAM XX1 Eagle
- Bottom bracketEnduro TorqLite
- PedalsLook X-Track Race
- Bottle cagesSpecialized side entry
- Saddle bagLizard Skins
- Weight11.96 kg (as pictured mid race with spares)
