Christoph Sauser and Konny Looser of Team Investec-Songo.info claimed Stage One of the FNB Wines2Whales MTB Race in a lightning fast time of 02 hours 49 minutes 37 seconds at the Oak Valley Wine Estate (Elgin-Grabouw) on Friday, 03 November 2017.<\/p>\n
Starting at Lourensford Wine Estate (Somerset West) on Friday, 03 November 2017 the 9th<\/sup> edition of the FNB W2W MTB Race attracted an impressive field of 1340 riders.\u00a0 Before crossing the finish line riders had to complete a 68km route that featured a 1650m ascent and included the Lourensford and Vergelegen climbs, the PERI Vergelegen Bridge, the portage over Gantouw Pass and the A2Z single tracks.<\/p>\n \u201cGoing into the race we knew that the PYGA boys are really strong,\u201d says Sauser.\u00a0 \u201cLuckily we know how to run.\u00a0 The goal was to get to the portage first.\u00a0 It\u2019s hard to make up time over the next two days.\u00a0 So we put in every second today.\u00a0 We\u2019re hoping to have a fun day on Stage Two, instead of just trying to hang on.\u201d<\/p>\n Team PYGA Euro Steel 1\u2019s Philip Buys and Matthys Beukes crossed the finish line in second place on the day.\u00a0 \u201cWe should definitely up our running game,\u201d admits Buys.\u00a0 \u201cWe always seem to forget about the portage section.\u00a0 Next time we\u2019ll come more prepared for it.\u00a0 The conditions were good.\u00a0 We managed to make up some time after the portage, but we lost the drag race on the last flat section.\u201d\u00a0 Team PYGA Euro Steel 1 completed Stage One in 02 hour 50 minutes 28 seconds.<\/p>\n Team NAD Pro MTB\u2019s Nico Bell and Gawie Combrinck rounded off the Stage One podium with a finishing time of 02 hours 53 minutes 26 seconds.\u00a0 \u201cThe pace was hard until the 1st<\/sup> climb,\u201d says Bell.\u00a0 \u201cAfter that we slacked off.\u00a0 The teams stuck together, waiting for the portage.\u00a0\u00a0 Christoph and Konny just ran away from us there.\u00a0 The stage was really enjoyable.\u00a0 Not too hot.\u00a0 The wet trails settled the dust nicely.\u201d<\/p>\n The women\u2019s race was led by Team Meerendal CBC\u2019s Jennie Stenerhag and Adelheid Morath.\u00a0 \u201cIt was tough out there,\u201d says Stenerhag.\u00a0 \u201cWe got away on the first climb.\u00a0 I set the pace at the start, but Adelheid later took over.\u00a0 She\u2019s really strong.\u00a0 I\u2019m not a runner, so I definitely walked the portage section. \u00a0\u00a0Vera and Adrian kept catching us.\u00a0 We went really hard on the last section.\u00a0 We only have one goal.\u00a0 Going into Stage Two we will try our best to defend our lead.\u201d<\/p>\n Team Meerendal CBC completed stage three in 03 hours 19 minutes 50 seconds.<\/p>\n Team Dormakaba\u2019s Candice Lill and Vera Adrian secured the second spot on the podium.\u00a0 \u201cIt was a tight race,\u201d says Lill.\u00a0 \u201cWe could always see Jennie and Adelheid.\u00a0 We\u2019re stoked with our performance today.\u00a0 The field of women is really good this year and so is the prize money.\u00a0 I love seeing so many strong women\u2019s teams on the start line.\u00a0 The future looks good for women\u2019s racing.\u201d<\/p>\n Team Velocity Sports Lab\u2019s Carmen Buchacher and Michelle Vorster finished third.<\/p>\n Husband and wife duo Martin and Jeannie Dreyer of Team Merchants claimed the top spot on the podium in the mixed team race in a time of 03 hours 35 minutes 22 seconds.\u00a0 \u201cBeing in Cape Town and riding in the rain today is really special,\u201d says Martin.\u00a0 \u201cI had a lovely time out on route with my wife.\u00a0 Being in the mixed team race, you never really know where you\u2019ve placed until you cross the finish line.\u00a0 Over the next two stages we\u2019ll have to keep our wits about us.\u201d<\/p>\n Team SAICA\u2019s Ila and Darryn Stow came in second, while Team Jowetts Racing\u2019s Natalie Bergstrom and Warren Price finished third.\u00a0<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n EVENT INFORMATION<\/u><\/strong>:\u00a0 <\/strong>FNB Wines2Whales MTB Race<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Stage Two<\/u><\/strong>:\u00a0 Saturday, 04 November 2017<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Start Venue:<\/strong>\u00a0 Oak Valley Wine Estate (Elgin-Grabouw)<\/p>\n Finish Venue:<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0 Oak Valley Wine Estate (Elgin-Grabouw)<\/p>\n Distance:<\/strong> 71km<\/p>\n Ascent:<\/strong> 1350m<\/p>\n Start Time:\u00a0 <\/strong>07:00<\/p>\n PRIZE PURSE:\u00a0 <\/strong>The 2017 FNB W2W MTB Race boasts an impressive Prize Purse of R417 000.\u00a0 For a complete Prize Purse Breakdown CLICK HERE<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n EXCITING PRIZE:<\/strong>\u00a0 This year one lucky rider (per event) will take home a magnificent 2018 Specialized Epic Comp Carbon mountain bike to the value of R59 000.<\/p>\n Facebook:\u00a0<\/strong> Wines2Whales<\/a><\/p>\n Twitter:\u00a0<\/strong> @w2wmtb<\/a><\/p>\n For more information on the FNB Wines2Whales MTB events contact Chris on 083 760 3158, e-mail race@wines2whales.co.za<\/a>, adventure@wines2whales.co.za<\/a> or ride@wines2whales.co.za<\/a> or visit www.wines2whales.co.za<\/a>\u00a0 ABOUT FNB WINES2WHALES Recently acquired by Cape Epic (PTY) Ltd, FNB Wines2Whales is a three-day mountain bike stage race held in the Western Cape, South Africa. Founded in 2009, the annual event hosts four thousand riders competing in two-person teams over 70-80km per day. The race format consists of three consecutive, separate, but identical events over ten days (named \u2018Adventure\u2019, \u2018Ride\u2019 and \u2018Race\u2019) \u2013 allowing riders to choose the appropriate option that suits their level of competitiveness. With entries selling out each year, FNB Wines2Whales is regarded as South Africa\u2019s premier three-day mountain bike stage race. ABOUT CAPE EPIC (PTY) Ltd and ABSA CAPE EPIC<\/strong><\/p>\n The\u00a0Absa Cape Epic\u00ae<\/sup>\u00a0is the world\u2019s premier mountain bike stage race. The route changes every year, leading aspiring amateur and professional mountain bikers from around the world through roughly 650km of unspoilt scenery and 15,000m of accumulated climbing, over some of the most magnificent mountain passes in Western Cape in South Africa. \u00a0The Absa Cape Epic is the most televised mountain bike stage race in the world and the only eight-day mountain bike stage race classed as hors cat\u00e9gorie by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI). This official UCI status makes it a highlight on the professional racer’s calendar. The Absa Cape Epic also attracts aspiring amateur riders wanting to test themselves against the best. It is a full-service race, meaning that everything is taken care of from the start – all riders need to think about is riding.<\/p>\n In 2017, Cape Epic was acquired by the IRONMAN group, part of Wanda Sports, to anchor a global portfolio of off-road events and\u00a0to spearhead the development and expansion of a worldwide series of premium mountain-bike races.<\/p>\n For more information on the FNB Wines2Whales\u00ae<\/sup>, visit www.wines2whales.co.za<\/a><\/p>\n For more information on the Absa Cape Epic\u00ae<\/sup>, visit www.cape-epic.com<\/a><\/p>\n For more information on the IRONMAN brand and global event series, visit www.ironman.com<\/a><\/p>\n ISSUED BY:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Newsport Media<\/a><\/p>\n
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