The three-day Tankwa Trek stage race took place in and around the Ceres area in South Africa from February 9.
Stage one
Stage one of the Tankwa Trek covered 83km with 1 900m of climbing in the Witzenberg Valley.
Canyon Topeak’s Alban Lakata and Kristian Hynek won the stage with Cannondale 1’s Manuel Fumic and Henrique Avancini in second. Cannondale 2’s Maxime Marotte and Marcel Guerrini completed the podium.
In the women’s race dormakaba’s Candice Lill and Helen Grobert topped the standings. Ascendis Health’s Robyn de Groot and Sabine Spitz came in second, with Meerendal CBC’s Jennie Stenerhag and Esther Süss in third.
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- Riders in action during stage one of the Tankwa Trek in Ceres. Photo: Zoon Cronje
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- Some of the ladies included in the women’s field of the Tankwa Trek that took place in Ceres. Photo: Zoon Cronje
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- Cannondale Factory Racing 1’s Henrique Avancini during stage one of the Tankwa Trek in Ceres. Photo: Zoon Cronje
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- Canyon Topeak Factory Racing’s Alban Lakata and Kristian Hynek claimed the stage victory at the Tankwa Trek in Ceres. Photo: Zoon Cronje
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- dormakaba’s Candice Lill and Helen Grobert took the win on stage one of the Tankwa Trek in Ceres. Photo: Zoon Cronje
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- The elite men’s podium at the Tankwa Trek from left are Manuel Fumic, Henrique Avancini, Alban Lakata, Kristian Hynek, Maxime Marotte and Marcel Guerrini. Photo: Zoon Cronje
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- The elite women’s podium at the Tankwa Trek from left are Sabine Spitz, Robyn de Groot, Helen Grobert, Candice Lill, Jennie Stenerhag and Eshter Süss. Photo: Zoon Cronje
Stage two
Stage two of the Tankwa Trek, also known as the queen stage, took riders on a 87km long stage with 2 200m of climbing.
Spur Specialized’s Alan Hatherly and Simon Andreassen took the stage win, Canyon Topeak’s Alban Lakata and Kristian Hynek finished in second with NAD Pro MTB’s Nico Bell and Matt Beers in third.
Lakata and Hynek led overall after stage two, with Cannondale 2’s Maxime Marotte and Marcel Guerrini second. PYGA Euro Steel’s Philip Buys and Matthys Beukes were third overall.
dormakaba’s Candice Lill and Helen Grobert won the women’s race and were in the lead overall. Ascendis Health’s Robyn de Groot and Sabine Spitz came in second, with Silverback Volvo OMX’s Yolande de Villiers and Mariske Strauss in third.
De Groot and Spitz are also second overall, with De Villiers and Strauss third overall.
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- Spur Specialized’s Simon Andreassen and Alan Hatherly won the queen stage of the Tankwa Trek in Ceres. Photo: Zoon Cronje
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- Centurion Vaude by Goldwurst Power’s Nicola Rohrbach and Daniel Geismayr in action on stage two of the Tankwa Trek. Photo: Zoon Cronje
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- Yolande de Villiers, Sabine Spitz and Robyn de Groot during the queen stage of the Tankwa Trek. Photo: Zoon Cronje
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- Spur Specialized’s Simon Andreassen and Alan Hatherly encounter a herd of cattle during stage two of the Tankwa Trek. Photo: Zoon Cronje
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- The men’s general classification podium after stage two of the Tankwa Trek, from left, are Matthys Beukes, Philip Buys, Alban Lakata, Kristian Hynek, Marcel Guerrini and Maxime Marotte. Photo: Zoon Cronje
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- The women’s general classification podium after stage two of the Tankwa Trek, from left, are Sabine Spitz, Robyn de Groot, Helen Grobert, Candice Lill, Yolande de Villiers and Mariske Strauss. Photo: Zoon Cronje
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- Riders in action during stage one of the Tankwa Trek in Ceres. Photo: Zoon Cronje
Stage three
Centurion Vaude by Goldwurst Power’s Nicola Rohrbach and Daniel Geismayr won the men’s race, while Silverback Volvo OMX’s Yolande de Villiers and Mariske Strauss claimed victory in the women’s race on the final stage of the Tankwa Trek.
The overall leaders’ jerseys did not change hands as Canyon Topeak Factory Racing’s Alban Lakata and Kristian Hynek and dormakaba’s Candice Lill and Helen Grobert were declared the respective 2018 winners.
The stage featured a rolling start which separated the rave village at Kaleo from the Houdenbek singletracks.
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- The men’s field in action during the final stage of the Tankwa Trek. Photo: by Zoon Cronje
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- Yolande de Villiers (left) and Mariske Strauss (right) were aiming for a stage win on the final day of the Tankwa Trek. Photo: Zoon Cronje
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- Nicola Rohrbach and Daniel Geismayr during stage three of the Tankwa Trek. Photo: Zoon Cronje
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- Giant Liv South Africa’s Sarah Hill won the mixed team race with Nicol Castens at the Tankwa Trek. Photo: Zoon Cronje
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- Matthys Beukes (seen here) and Philip Buys were the top placed South Africans at the Tankwa Trek. Photo: Zoon Cronje
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- Daniel Geismayr (left) and Nicola Rohrbach celebrate their stage win on the final day of the Tankwa Trek. Photo: Zoon Cronje
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- Yolande de Villers (left) and Mariske Strauss celebrate their stage victory on the final day of the Tankwa Trek. Photo: Zoon Cronje
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- Helen Grobert (left) and Candice Lill were the overall winners of the Tankwa Trek. Photo: Zoon Cronje
