Near-perfect weather conditions greeted 1268 mountain bikers (634 teams) at the picturesque Lourensford Wine Estate on Monday, 07 November 2016 where they lined up for the start of the much anticipated FNB Wines2Whales (W2W) Mountain Bike (MTB) Ride.

The first of two destination stages, Stage One saw riders having to complete a 68km MTB route (with 1420m ascent) from Lourensford Wine Estate (Somerset West) to the festival village at the majestic Oak Valley Wine Estate (Elgin-Grabouw), home for the next two days.

Phetetso Monese and Bruce Hughes of Team ACE Lesotho set a lightning fast pace, crossing the finish line first in 03 hours 07 minutes 39 seconds. According to Hughes, the stage was fantastic. “It was fast. The single track was stunning and well ridden thanks to the W2W Adventure riders that participated this past weekend. We started out hard in a sizeable group. At the Portage section we saw a gap and pushed hard over Gantouw. From there it was pretty much solo riding to the finish.”

“This is the second time that I take part in the W2W,” says Monese. “I really enjoyed the stage. It was a fun day. We definitely want to go for the win.” Team KAP Prochorus’ Lorenzo Le Roux and Daniel Mannweiler came in second, while Team Lantau Buffaloes’ HP Odendaal and Daniel Carleton finished third.

The FNB W2W MTB Ride has attracted the attention of well-known SA downhill mountain biker, Darryn Stow. “This is my first W2W,” says Stowe. “Today’s stage probably suited our style the least. The open roads are perfect for the powerful riders. Stage Two and Three will be better for us though. We’d love to make top three.” Stow and team mate, Graeme Dale Kuys of Team More Cowbell finished 4th on the day. 

Mountain bikers in action during Stage One of the FNB Wines2Whales Mountain Bike Ride.   Photo: Tobias Ginsberg
Mountain bikers in action during Stage One of the FNB Wines2Whales Mountain Bike Ride.
Photo: Tobias Ginsberg

   

Russell Lund and Anneke Hanekom of Team Haaskat crossed the finish line first in the Mixed Team category in 03 hours 37 minutes 03 seconds. Team Bike Hub’s Nicholas Webb and Kylie Hanekom came in second, while Team Citricom 2’s Jeanie De Villiers and Piet Laubscher finished third.

Proving that mountain biking is in their blood Alta Kriegler and Sunette Beyers, twin sisters of Johan Kriegler (FNB W2W MTB Director), were also seen in action on the day. “We really enjoyed the stage,” says Beyers. “This is our first W2W. My sister and I only recently started riding as a team. It’s really nice to take part with her.”  

Team Companero’s Jana Kruger and Ilse Viljoen were the ladies to beat in the women’s race, crossing the line first in 04 hours 07 minutes 59 seconds. Team Sterri Stumpi & Beer’s Meike Aschenbroich and Inky Talbot came in second, while Team Vergelegen’s Alta Kriegler and Sunette Beyers finished third.

Stage Two: Tuesday, 08 November 2016

Start Venue: Oak Valley Wine Estate (Elgin-Grabouw)  

Finish Venue: Oak Valley Wine Estate (Elgin-Grabouw)  

Start Time: 07:00

Distance & Climb:   64km / 1400m

Family and friends are invited to show support on route. The Event’s Spectator Guide can be downloaded here: http://wines2whales.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Spectator-Guide.png

       
   
     
 
FNB Wines2Whales MTB Ride / Stage 1 / Top 10 Results
7 Nov 2016
Men
P_GC Time Day1 TeamName Rider1 Rider2
1 3:07:39 ACE Lesotho Phetetso Monese Bruce Hughes
2 3:12:23 KAP Prochorus Lorenzo Le Roux Daniel Mannweiler
3 3:13:25 Lantau Buffaloes HP Odendaal Daniel Carleton
4 3:15:36 More Cowbell Graeme Dale Kuys Darryn Stow
5 3:23:36 Full Cycle Mario Ferreira Maurice Ferreira
6 3:24:59 Grenade Digital 1 Colin Daniels Dwaine Brooks
7 3:25:22 Xtreme Riders Pierre Andre Knoetze Fanie Steenkamp
8 3:27:05 KANTEYS D Jako Van Heerden Karl Daschner
9 3:31:17 Bicycling SA Aaron Borrill Raelen Trew-browne
10 3:34:46 Lynnwood Cyclery Andre Terlouw Gert Johannes Janse Van Rensburg
Mixed
P_GC Time Day1 TeamName Rider1 Rider2
12 3:37:03 Haaskat Russell Lund Anneke Hanekom
17 3:43:41 Bike Hub Nicholas Webb Kylie Hanekom
30 3:53:37 Citricom 2 Jeanie De Villiers Piet Laubscher
36 3:55:36 Team Prentis Liesel Prentis Ken Prentis
49 4:01:51 Code Red Tobias Beyers Carla Beyers
61 4:06:38 Suunto Team Gustav Van Tromp Sylvia Van Tromp
72 4:13:20 Tortoise and the Hare Kerry Stevens Chris Smit
81 4:15:37 Trail Virgins Michael Whitehouse Laurin Whitehouse
92 4:20:38 Team D and G Momsen Gayle Momsen David Momsen
115 4:28:35 Holy Spokes Debbi Talmage Kim Talmage
Ladies
P_GC Time Day1 TeamName Rider1 Rider2
63 4:07:59 Companero Jana Kruger Ilse Viljoen
77 4:15:13 Sterri Stumpi & Beer Meike Aschenbroich Inky Talbot
85 4:17:40 Vergelegen Alta Kriegler Sunette Beyers
112 4:27:43 Carspares Duo Shannon Kirkhoff Jenni Opperman
129 4:34:56 Cruizin couzins Lynnette Jones Anushka Wohlberg
131 4:35:18 LOVE THE RIDE Georgina Smith Wendy Potgieter
133 4:35:37 Fast in Frannies Michele Du Toit Beverley Wood
145 4:38:35 Team KK Namibia Maike Bochert Anneke Steenkamp
183 4:47:47 Owlfarm Inge Schabort Alexandra De Kock
194 4:52:33 Michelle Squared Michelle Powell Michelle Schlebusch

 

Source: Newsport Media

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