Stage Two of the FNB Wines2Whales (W2W) MTB Race saw Team PYGA Euro Steel 1\u2019s Matthys Beukes and Philip Buys, and Team Valencia Ladies\u2019 Samantha Sanders and Amy Mcdougall shake up the field in the men\u2019s and women\u2019 race respectively on Saturday, 04 November 2017.<\/p>\n
\u201cI knew that it would be a hard stage, but the route suited us well,\u201d said Beukes.\u00a0 \u201cWe applied some pressure in the rocky sections.\u00a0 The group stuck together and then Konny\u2019s bike got a flat tyre.\u00a0 From there it was a 60km drag race.\u00a0 Stage Three will be like a one day race for us.\u00a0 It\u2019s basically our last big race of the year so we might as well go all out.\u201d<\/p>\n
Teammate Philip Buys expects a tough Stage Three.\u00a0 \u201cToday wasn\u2019t an easy day or an easy win.\u00a0 We know that Stage Three won\u2019t be any easier,\u201d said Buys.<\/p>\n
Team PYGA Euro Steel 1 completed Stage Two in an impressive time of 02 hours 39 minutes 12 seconds.\u00a0 Team NAD Pro MTB\u2019s Gawie Combrinck and Nico Bell came in second, while Team Investec-Songo.info\u2019s Konny Looser and Christoph Sauser finished third.<\/p>\n
Team Valencia Ladies\u2019 Samantha Sanders and Amy Mcdougall completed Stage Two in a deserving time of 03 hours 01 minute 38 seconds.<\/p>\n
\u201cI knew that we had a lot of single track coming up on Stage Two,\u201d says Sanders.\u00a0 \u201cI went to the front and set the tempo.\u00a0 We reached the single track first and just held our lead from there.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cToday was beautiful,\u201d says Mcdougall.\u00a0 \u201cI felt much better than yesterday and the single track suited our riding style.\u00a0 It was smiles all the way.\u00a0 We plan on riding as hard as we can on the last stage.\u201d<\/p>\n
Team Meerendal CBC\u2019s Jennie Stenerhag and Adelheid Morath came in second, with Team Velocity Sports Lab\u2019s Carmen Buchacher and Michelle Vorster placing third on the day.<\/p>\n
In the mixed team race husband and wife duo Jeannie and Martin Dreyer of Team Merchants claimed another stage victory with a finishing time of 03 hours 16 minutes 32 seconds.\u00a0 \u201cWe had a phenomenal day,\u201d says Jeannie.\u00a0 \u201cI like to think that my mountain biking skills are improving as I felt more relaxed and was able to enjoy the stage.\u00a0 The route was smooth and free flowing.\u00a0 Everything just seemed to connect well.\u00a0 We\u2019re looking forward to Stage Three.\u00a0 It\u2019s always special seeing the ocean.\u201d<\/p>\n
Team Jowetts Racing\u2019s Natalie Bergstrom and Warren Price came in second, while Team SAICA\u2019s Ila and Darryn Stow finished third.<\/p>\n
Leading out Stage Three<\/u>:<\/strong><\/p>\n Going into Stage Three Team Investec-Songo.info\u2019s Konny Looser and Christoph Sauser have a 6 second lead over Team PYGA Euro Steel 1\u2019s Matthys Beukes Philip Buys.\u00a0 Team NAD Pro MTB\u2019s Gawie Combrinck and Nico Bell are in third place.<\/p>\n \u201cEven though it\u2019s only 6 seconds, going into Stage Three as the leaders makes a difference,\u201d says Looser.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s a mental game.\u00a0 The other teams will have to attack.\u00a0 Both teams are pretty much on the same level.\u00a0 It won\u2019t be easy to make up the difference.\u201d<\/p>\n In the Women\u2019s Race Team Meerendal CBC\u2019s Jennie Stenerhag and Adelheid Morath have just over 5 minutes on Team Dormakaba\u2019s Candice Lill and Vera Adrian.\u00a0 Team Valencia Ladies\u2019 Samantha Sanders and Amy Mcdougall are in third place.<\/p>\n \u201cStage Three will be a tough stage,\u201d says Stenerhag.\u00a0 \u201cI try not to think about the prize money until after the race. I was thinking about it a bit during Stage Two though.\u00a0 Overall is what counts.\u201d<\/p>\n Team Merchants\u2019 Jeannie and Martin Dreyer are leading the Mixed Team Race by over 8 minutes.\u00a0 Team Jowetts Racing\u2019s Natalie Bergstrom and Warren Price are in second place, with Team SAICA\u2019s \u00a0Ila and Darryn Stow lying in third place.<\/p>\n The only stage to start and finish at the Oak Valley Wine Estate, \u201cPlay Day\u201d saw riders having to complete a 71km route that featured a 1350 ascent.\u00a0 Iconic sections to look out for on route included bridges with names such as Waterfall, Vissie\u2019s Magic, JK\u2019s Edge, Sounds of Silence, Rietvlei, Witklippies 1 & 2, Raka, Swing, Ark, Cobra, Mamba, Boomslang, Pofadder, Jakkels, River Run and the much loved PERI-KROMCO Playpark to mention just a few.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n EVENT INFORMATION:<\/strong>\u00a0 FNB Wines2Whales MTB Race<\/p>\n Stage Three<\/u><\/strong>:\u00a0 <\/strong>Sunday, 05 November 2017<\/p>\n Start Venue:<\/strong>\u00a0 Oak Valley Wine Estate (Elgin-Grabouw)<\/p>\n Finish Venue:<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0 Onrus Caravan Park<\/p>\n Distance:<\/strong> 71km<\/p>\n Ascent:<\/strong> 1200m<\/p>\n Start Time:<\/strong>\u00a0 07:00<\/p>\n PRIZE PURSE:<\/strong>\u00a0 The 2017 FNB W2W MTB Race boasts an impressive Prize Purse of R417 000.\u00a0 For a complete Prize Purse Breakdown CLICK HERE<\/a><\/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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