Win in third stage gives local team second place
Team NAD's Gawie Combrinck and Nico Bell won the third and final stage of the KAP Sani2C from Jolivet Farm to Scottburgh on Saturday, claiming the second step on the men's overall podium.
The locals proved too strong for team Telkom’s Johann Rabie and Hendrik Kruger who won the first stage from Glencairn Farm, Himeville, Sani Pass Road, to MacKenzie Country Club, Eastwolds, Ixopo. Rabie and Kruger placed third overall.
Gert Heyns and Matthys Beukes of Scott LCB Factory Racing finished first over the 263 kilometres in nine hours, five minutes and six seconds.
“It was flat-out from the start and I was battling a bit but Nico looked after me well,” Combrinck said.
“We managed to hang onto the front and in the last few kilometres we got the jump on the guys and got on to the bridge, and from there we luckily stayed up front and took the win.”
Bell was happy that they were able to get one stage win under the belt after missing out over the first two days of the race. “To win the final stage is probably the best stage to win in terms of coverage for sponsors, and that’s why we are so happy with our win. We tried our best in the general classification but it was difficult because we were still a little tired from joBerg2c but to get a stage win is satisfying,” Bell told Supersport.com.
Yet another local team, LGE Midas/Bells Cyling’s Dalene van der Leek and Igna de Villiers, who partnered in the mixed category of the 11th Panorama Cycle Tour, claimed overall fourth place in a time of 10 hours, 48 minutes and 29 seconds.
They lost a lot of time during the last stage. “I had a crash on the last day, and I lost a bit of confidence. It has manicured single tracks, beautiful race villages, a spacious rider lounge and caters well for their riders. The wide range of the field makes the Sani2C very unique. The Trail and Adventure race was rainy, but when it was time for the Sani2C. This has been our second Sani2C together.
“We have raced hard and did our utmost best, representing our sponsor Bells LGE Midas. We are pleased with our fourth place in the mixed category and 37th overall. The highlight of the tour was definitely the decent into the Umkomaas Valley on day two. We had no major mechanicals, just a small crash halfway through the last day. This race is a must-do for every mountain-biker,” Van der Leek said.
Catherine Williamson and Johan Labuschagne from The Bicycle Company Mitas were first after the third stage in 10:13:46.
Sam Sanders of Valencia claimed yet another victory in the women’s category in 10:56:02 with teammate Theresa Ralph. Sanders also came first in the women’s category during the joBerg2c, riding with Anriette Schoeman.
