After three days of racing in all all-manner of conditions, Candice Lill and Tyler Jacobs emerged victorious from the 2023 FNB Wines2Whales Chardonnay race. The Computer Mania Seattle Coffee Co. team notched up three straight stage victories to claim the overall title by 9 minutes and 5 seconds from Safari Essence Imbuko; on Sunday, 22 October.
Tiffany Keep and Danielle Strydom had themselves enjoyed a stellar race, after overcoming a difficult opening stage to finish second on Stages 2 and 3 en route to sealing silver. Cherise Willeit and Smantha Sanders, Sandton City Efficient Infiniti, completed the final stage and general classification podium at Lourensford Wine Estate.
The first event in the 2023 FNB W2W series was a dramatic one. Stage 1 had to be moved in its entirety, two days before the race got underway. The new route in Lourensford provided singletrack thrills, as well as a misty and cool day of racing. Lill and Jacobs were the somewhat surprising winners on the day, after both had repeatedly stated that they had no expectations coming into the event.
Stage 2 was a mud-fest of the sort that FNB W2W has a reputation for dishing up every few years. Steady overnight drizzle persisted throughout the day. This meant that the trails were treacherously slippery in places, which accounted for Vera Looser, the defending champion, crashing virtually within sight of the finish line and breaking her hand. She was not the only crasher; but unlike on Stage 1 when a fall prevented Keep and Strydom from contesting the sprint for second, on Stage 2 the pair prevailed over Willeit and Sanders. Ahead, Lill and Jacobs were imperious in the wet, riding away to a commanding stage victory.
Heading into the final day the Computer Mania Seattle Coffee Co. pairing held a 7-minute lead. The 64 kilometre point-to-point course, from Oak Valley to Lourensford, took in 1450 metres of climbing. Despite the cold start, clear skies saw the temperatures rocket into the low 30s, drying out the trails with the aid of a stiff south easterly wind.
Though the fastest riders were done before the mercury climbed too high, the wind played its part in the stage. After a steady first 20 kilometres – during which Computer Mania Seattle Coffee Co, Safari Essence Imbuko and Sandton City Efficient Infiniti raced side by side – Lill and Jacobs began to establish an advantage on the climb to Gantouw Pass. On and just after the compulsory portage the leaders battled the wind.
“It was very blustery between the Pass and Water Point 2 at Idiom Wines,” Lill recounted. “We nearly got blown into each other the wind was so strong.” Shortly after the water point Keep and Strydom regained contact with the women in the orange leader jerseys. The Safari Essence Imbuko team’s ability to stay with the leaders was compromised by Keep missing a gel, which in a show of remarkable sportsmanship Lill provided for her.
That did however not prevent Lill and Jacobs from distancing Keep and Strydom on the final climb, whereafter they rode to a third stage victory. “I’d said I had no expectations coming into the race, and I really didn’t,” Jacobs reiterated after wrapping up the title. “That didn’t mean I wasn’t stressed by being in the leaders’ jersey though. I could hardly eat breakfast every morning I was so nervous.”
The overall victory may have come as a surprise to Jacobs, but Lill might have had it in her sights all along. “I know Tyler [Jacobs] has the cross-country speed so I knew she could surprise herself,” Lill smiled. “This weekend was all about managing her efforts, making sure she fuelled and ensuring she had a good time. I wanted Tyler to have a good first experience stage racing, and I think we achieved that.”
Keep and Strydom crossed the final finish line 1 minute and 50 seconds after the Computer Mania Seattle Coffee Co. team. Having started the race with a puncture and a crash on the same Lourensford finish line, on Stage 1, the Safari Essence Imbuko pairing were clearly happy with their second place overall.
Willeit and Sanders completed the podium places on the day, and overall. They were in turn ahead of the Freewheel Cycology team. Hayley Preen and Frances Janse van Rensburg had themselves enjoyed an exciting stage, with Janse van Rensburg crashing just before the Gantouw Pass portage and having to chase back to reclaim fourth. Sarah Hill and Claudia Krenn rounded out the top five places on the day and on the final general classification standings.
With the women’s Chardonnay race wrapped up the FNB Wines2Whales attention turns to the eBike race in the Pinotage event. The mid-week race is famed for being the most relaxed of the three events. Along with an eBike tour and the usual categories, racing for nothing but bragging rights, the Pinotage also features an eBike race. This was won in 2021 by Max Sullivan and Jason Boulle, while Bobby Behan and Giniel de Villiers won the 2022 edition.
To see who will light up the course on their eBikes in 2023 tune in to the 2023 FNB Wines2Whales Pinotage from 23 to 25 October. Follow the action at @wines_2_whales on Instagram or like the Wines2Whales Facebook page for regular updates, in the stories. Fans can also catch the daily highlights on the Epic Series YouTube channel and read all about how the racing unfolded on www.epic-series.com/wines2whales.
Leading Results: FNB Wines2Whales Chardonnay
Stage 3 Results
- Computer Mania Seattle Coffee Co: Candice Lill & Tyler Jacobs (3:15:53)
- Safari Essence Imbuko: Tiffany Keep & Danielle Strydom (3:17:43 | +1:50)
- Sandton City Efficient Infiniti: Cherise Willeit & Samantha Sanders (3:23:26 | +7:33)
- Freewheel Cycology: Hayley Preen & Frances Janse van Rensburg (3:27:49 | +11:56)
- Hilly & Edgy: Sarah Hill & Claudia Krenn (3:28:54 | +13:01)
General Classification Results after Stage 3:
- Computer Mania Seattle Coffee Co: Candice Lill & Tyler Jacobs (8:55:42)
- Safari Essence Imbuko: Tiffany Keep & Danielle Strydom (9:04:48 | +9:05)
- Sandton City Efficient Infiniti: Cherise Willeit & Samantha Sanders (9:13:28 | +17:46)
- Freewheel Cycology: Hayley Preen & Frances Janse van Rensburg (9:37:00 | +41:18)
- Hilly & Edgy: Sarah Hill & Claudia Krenn (9:42:02 | +46:20)
Source: FNB Wines2Whales
