Team dormakaba SA’s Samantha Sanders said she was “completely gutted” at having to withdraw from the Wines2Whales Chardonnay event after being unable to finish the opening stage yesterday due to illness.
Team dormakaba SA’s Samantha Sanders (pictured) said she was “completely gutted” at having to withdraw from the Wines2Whales Chardonnay event due to illness. Photo: Twitter/@TeamdormakabaSA
She and Amy McDougall, among the best women partnerships in South African mountain-biking, were forced to pull out of the race when a stomach bug left Sanders feeling queasy.
“We weren’t sure if it was something bad I ate but I just became physically ill,” Sanders told In the Bunch today.
“My decision to withdraw came after how dizzy and light-headed I felt on the bike. I’m completely gutted obviously, and for a host of reasons.”
She said McDougall was very supportive of her decision. “She was fantastic and we made the call together not to continue.
“Feeling like I do today I know it was the right decision.”
From the start of the season the pair had this inaugural all-women’s Wines2Whales event down as one of their main goals. For that reason Sanders said it was a “sore disappointment”.
“It was also a tough decision because I know and fully comprehend the amount of money, time and effort my team and sponsors put into sending us here.
“But getting sick was something I couldn’t control. I’m grateful to the sponsors and team for supporting my decision,” she added.
The third and final stage of the Chardonnay event will conclude in Hermanus tomorrow. Summit Finance’s Candice Lill and Adelheid Morath have won both the first two stages.
