Konny Looser and Fabian Giger (Team Kross Bikes BiXS Pro) took the honours in 2:34:17 on day two of the Wines2Whales Race at Oak Valley Wine Estate today.
They pipped Christoph Sauser and Sam Gaze (Investec-Songo-Specialized) to the finish, while HB Kruger and Johann Rabie (Team Telkom) finished third.
“We battled with Team Investec-Songo-Specialized. We tried everything, but they just stayed on our wheels. We are happy with the stage win,” said Looser.
In the women’s race Ariane Kleinhans and Cherie Redecker (Team Spur) outsprinted Robyn De Groot and Jennie Stenerhag (Team Ascendis Health) in 2:55:54, with Vera Adrian and Candice Neethling (Dormakaba Time Freight) rounding out the podium.
From front to back: Cherie Redecker and Ariane Kleinhans (Team Spur) in action during stage two of the Wines2Whales Race. Photo: David Tarpey
“We went flat out from the gun. Team Ascendis Health brought their A game and we’re really happy to be able to get ahead of them and cross the finish line first. Tomorrow we’ll give our all,” said Kleinhans.
Martin and Jeannie Dreyer (Team Merchants) claimed gold in the mixed team race in 3:15:57. Ila’s Stow and Marc Wells (Team SAICA Global Asp) came in second, while Genevieve Weber and Nichol Jordaan (Team CFP CYCLETEC Mixed) finished third.
Going into stage three Sauser and Gaze is leading the men’s race, De Groot and Stenerhag the women’s race and the Dreyers the mixed team race.
The stage will have riders leave Oak Valley Wine Estate and take on a 69km journey before crossing the finish line at Onrus Caravan Park.
