NAD Pro titles first win
The Lowveld's Gawie Combrinck and Nico Bell finished first in the overall standings after nine days of racing of the 900-kilometre Old Mutual joBerg2c in 32:29,25.
Combrinck became the first three-time winner of this mountain-bike race after placing second alongside teammate Bell on the final stage of 84 kilometres between Highflats and Scottburgh in KwaZulu-Natal.
In the last stage, that belied the freezing and windy conditions, Bell and Combrinck were second behind Johann Rabie and HB Kruger when they arrived at the finish line in Scottburgh, but they had done enough over the previous eight stages to ensure their victory by a convincing 12 minutes.
Rabie and HB of Telkom won the stage – their fourth in total – when they got the better of NAD Pro on the single-track section that led riders to the floating bridge and finish on the beach.
It was their first victory since they partnered. In February they placed fourth in the Tankwa Trek, a three-day stage race and a second position in the African Jersey during the Absa Cape Epic. “We couldn’t be more happy with the win. We have raced together a lot and we train together every day. It is vital on a stage race as you are only as strong as the weakest rider,” said the team of NAD Pro.
Amy Beth McDougall and Grant Usher of Valencia Lanham-Love placed overall third in the mixed category in 35:25,23 and yet another two local riders of Valencia, Sam Sanders and Anriette Schoeman won the women category in 39:50,19.
Next up is the Sani2c next week from Glencairn Farm, Himeville, Sani Pass Road, to MacKenzie Country Club, Eastwolds, Ixopo.
