{"id":17821,"date":"2018-05-02T18:58:30","date_gmt":"2018-05-02T16:58:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southafricatoday.net\/sport\/?p=17821"},"modified":"2018-05-02T18:58:30","modified_gmt":"2018-05-02T16:58:30","slug":"rukadza-calitz-claim-second-stage-victory-at-africanx","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southafricatoday.net\/sport\/press-release\/rukadza-calitz-claim-second-stage-victory-at-africanx\/","title":{"rendered":"Rukadza, Calitz claim second stage victory at AfricanX"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cLet Nature Give You A Run For Your Money\u201d
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

Team K-Way Wintergreen\u2019s<\/strong> Bernard Rukadza and AJ Calitz further extended their lead with a second consecutive stage victory at the AfricanX Trailrun presented by ASICS at Boschendal Wine Estate on Saturday, 28 April 2018.<\/p>\n

Stage Two started and finished at Retreat, Boschendal Wine Estate.\u00a0 Teams had to complete a 33km \u2013 35km route.<\/p>\n

According to Calitz, the stage was by no means easy.\u00a0 \u201cWe felt it today.\u00a0 For once I was stronger than Bernie on the climbs, but he still pulled me on the flats.\u00a0 A 30-second lead is not much.\u00a0 With Sunday\u2019s Stage (Day Three) being shorter, we know that Lucky Miya and Thabang Madiba will push hard.\u00a0 We had to make our gap today.\u00a0 We took the lead from the start.\u00a0 We spoke all the way making sure that both of us were ok.\u00a0 I always say that the friendship is more important than the win.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOur plan was to push hard today,\u201d admits Rukadza.\u00a0 \u201cMy legs felt ok.\u00a0 Before the start AJ and I had a chat.\u00a0 We just stuck to our game-plan.\u00a0 AJ was strong on the up hills.\u00a0 That is where he pulled me.\u00a0 When we\u2019re in front of the group, I took the lead.\u00a0\u00a0 We\u2019re happy to take the stage victory.\u201d<\/p>\n

Team K-Way Wintergreen claimed the Stage Two victory in a well-deserved time of 02 hours 58 minutes 24 seconds.\u00a0 Team Old Mutual Wealth\u2019s Timothy Chambers and Jonathan Black came in 2nd<\/sup>, while Team <\/strong>#gearupgetout is #timetoplay\u2019s <\/strong>Lucky Miya and Thabang Madiba finished 3rd<\/sup>.<\/p>\n

Nicolette Griffioen and Carla Van Huyssteen of Team KeyHealth Neverest \/ K-Way <\/strong>also claimed their second stage victory for the weekend in a time of 03 hours 28 minutes 42 seconds.<\/p>\n

\u201cToday\u2019s stage was hotter than yesterday,\u201d says Griffioen.\u00a0 \u201cThe route was also flatter, which isn\u2019t our strong point.\u00a0 The girls kept with us.\u00a0 We pulled away on a climb and managed to keep our lead\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery time that I do AfricanX I realise that I am not fit enough for the distance,\u201d laughs Van Huyssteen.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll have to make a mental note for next year.\u00a0 Nicolette is super strong and helped me a lot today.\u00a0 We have a very good partnership.\u00a0 We used our strengths and pushed on the descents.\u00a0 We\u2019re happy to open the gap going into Stage Three.\u00a0 It\u2019ll help a lot.\u00a0 We\u2019ll run with what we have and try to protect the gap.\u201d<\/p>\n

Team R & R\u2019s (Retired & Rewired) Kate Roberts and Mari Rabie came in 2nd<\/sup>, while Team Tailwind Ladies\u2019 Danette Smith and Kate Mapham finished 3rd<\/sup>.<\/p>\n

In the mixed team race Team Crumb<\/strong>\u2019s Davide Del Fante and Daneil Feldmann also managed another stage victory in a time of 03 hours 51 minutes 19 seconds.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t decide which was tougher, Stage One or Stage Two,\u201d says Feldmann.\u00a0 \u201cThis stage had a crazy climb.\u00a0 We\u2019ve got a pretty good lead.\u00a0 Tomorrow we\u2019ll just run our own race and keep it consistent.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe didn\u2019t lead from the start today, but instead switched places a number of times,\u201d says Del Fante.\u00a0 \u201cWe stuck to our plan which was to keep it steady and run our own race.\u00a0 Our plan worked.\u00a0 We\u2019ll just do the same tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n

Team Gauteng Diesel Engines\u2019 Takalani and Mazu Ndandani came in 2nd<\/sup>, while Team ATS\u2019 Leani Grimes and Jacques Buys finished 3rd<\/sup>.<\/p>\n

The AfricanX Trailrun is a three day stage trail run that requires teams of two runners (male\/female\/mixed) to battle it out on a route that varies in distance between 20km – 36km each day.\u00a0 Teamwork and endurance is put to the test.<\/p>\n

NEXT UP<\/u><\/strong>:\u00a0 Stage Three \/ AfricanX Trailrun presented by ASICS<\/strong><\/p>\n