The muddied faces of Philip Buys and Matthys Beukes were all smiles as they won the third stage of the sani2c Race and secured the overall title for the event, which finished at Scottburgh Main Beach in KwaZulu-Natal today.
The PYGA EuroSteel pair were two minutes behind Timothy Hammond and Matthew Beers but a mechanical forced the Ryder RED E Sport Africa team to stop just 4km from the finish.
Hammond and Beers then had to chase to make up time and they followed eight seconds behind to finish second in the GC with Waylon Woolcock and HB Kruger completing the men’s podium for day three and taking third overall.
The PYGA EuroSteel pair finished in a time of 2:50:07 after a hard day of racing.
Philip Buys and Matthys Beukes (PYGA EuroSteel) were in high spirits as they won the final day of the sani2c Race. Photo: Anthony Grote
“It was a really tough day out there today. Everyone seemed to be having some sort of trouble out there and it just reminded me of the Wacky Races really,” said Beukes
“Just when any of the teams seemed to get on a roll they would have some trouble.
“Walyon and HB had some trouble trouble, Nico and Gawie also did and even we had trouble,” he said.
Their win today gave them two out of two stage wins as yesterday’s race was declared a neutral due to the poor weather conditions.
Hammond and Beers led the race after a breakaway 5km from the start and were able to hold onto their lead until chain issues gave Buys and Beukes their opportunity.
“In these kinds of circumstances you’ve just got to go. It’s the last stage, it’s muddy and with everyone hating it you know you have nothing to lose,” said Beers.
“I said to Tim that we should go for it, and we almost did pull it off so I’m happy.”
Candice Lill and Vera Adrian (Dormakaba) successfully defended their title as they led the ladies home in a time of 3:09:45.
Valencia Ladies Amy Mcdougall and Samantha Sanders followed four minutes behind with a further three minutes between them and the Ascendis Health’s Mariske Strauss and Robyn de Groot.
James Reid and Mari Rabie for Private Client Holdings won the mixed category.
