Arno du Toit and Gert Heyns won the men’s team race on the opening stage of the sani2c Race in Ixopo today.
The DSV Pro Cycling duo completed the 82km route in 2:49:57 and was followed home by Matthys Beukes and Philip Buys (Pyga Euro Steel). Matthew Beers and Stuart Marais (NAD MTB) completed the podium.
“It was a pretty quick stage from the start but we expected the PYGA guys to race more aggressively,” said Arno du Toit.
“They were quite conservative and that worked well for us, them and the NAD Pro guys, but we are really happy to pull off the stage win in the end.”
The women’s team race was won by Samantha Sanders and Robyn de Groot, with Sarah Hill and Theresa Ralph (Galileo Risk) second. Kristen Louw and Danielle Strydom (Team Bestmed) placed third.
“We rode at a tempo within ourselves and I didn’t have any expectations when we started this morning,” said Sanders.
“We just wanted to see how the legs felt and Robyn has been off the bike for six months, but she was really strong. It’s cool to have a lead but there are still two long days of racing ahead of us.”
Joanna van de Winkel and Tijl van de Winkel won the mixed team race, while Sanet Coetzee and Martin van der Westhuizen (Ryder Innovation) slotted into second. Third place went to Callan Sexton and Fiddy Gey van Pittius (Tantigatti 1).
The second stage starts at Mackenzie Club and ends in Jolivet 97km later.
Gert Heyns (right) and Arno du Toit won stage one of the sani2c Race today. Photo: Maryann Shaw/Gameplan Media
View more results below.
Stage one results
Men’s teams
1. Arno du Toit & Gert Heyns (DSV Pro Cycling) 2:49:57
2. Matthys Beukes & Philip Buys (Pyga Euro Steel) 2:49:58
3. Matthew Beers & Stuart Marais (NAD MTB) 2:50:17
4. Pieter du Toit & Phillimon Sebona (PYGA Euro Steel 2) 2:51:05
5. Shaun-Nick Bester & Andrew Hill (Darkhorse Wheels insured by TIB) 2:51:44
Women’s teams
1. Samantha Sanders & Robyn de Groot (dormakaba) 3:12:54
2. Sarah Hill & Theresa Ralph (Galileo Risk) 3:16:58
3. Kristen Louw & Danielle Strydom (Team Bestmed) 3:47:53
4. Lisa Williams-Slabbert & Julia Westoby (The Belgians 2) 4:18:44
5. Michaele Laidlaw & Ada Greyling (FoF Vlakvaarkies)
Mixed teams
1. Joanna van de Winkel & Tijl van de Winkel (Cycle Nation – Sandton City) 3:18:22
2. Sanet Coetzee & Martin van der Westhuizen (Ryder Innovation) 3:23:42
3. Callan Sexton & Fiddy Gey van Pittius (Tantigatti 1) 3:26:06
4. Neville Rosenstein & Lizle Rosenstein (Team Rosy Balls) 3:34:09
5. Rupert Searle & Hayley Smith (Bell Equipment) 3:39:08
General classification
Men’s teams
1. Arno du Toit & Gert Heyns (DSV Pro Cycling) 2:49:57
2. Matthys Beukes & Philip Buys (Pyga Euro Steel) 2:49:58
3. Matthew Beers & Stuart Marais (NAD MTB) 2:50:17
4. Pieter du Toit & Phillimon Sebona (PYGA Euro Steel 2) 2:51:05
5. Shaun-Nick Bester & Andrew Hill (Darkhorse Wheels insured by TIB) 2:51:44
Women’s teams
1. Samantha Sanders & Robyn de Groot (dormakaba) 3:12:54
2. Sarah Hill & Theresa Ralph (Galileo Risk) 3:16:58
3. Kristen Louw & Danielle Strydom (Team Bestmed) 3:47:53
4. Lisa Williams-Slabbert & Julia Westoby (The Belgians 2) 4:18:44
5. Michaele Laidlaw & Ada Greyling (FoF Vlakvaarkies)
Mixed teams
1. Joanna van de Winkel & Tijl van de Winkel (Cycle Nation – Sandton City) 3:18:22
2. Sanet Coetzee & Martin van der Westhuizen (Ryder Innovation) 3:23:42
3. Callan Sexton & Fiddy Gey van Pittius (Tantigatti 1) 3:26:06
4. Neville Rosenstein & Lizle Rosenstein (Team Rosy Balls) 3:34:09
5. Rupert Searle & Hayley Smith (Bell Equipment) 3:39:08
