![\"image.jpeg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/image.163391eea198070f01d9782f00fb06ad-1.jpeg\" "\\"\\"")
A Sprint finish sees Imbuko {Type}DEV win Stage 2. Image by Sam Clark<\/span><\/span>\n<\/p>\n\n\tBut for the teams laying it all on the line for the stage win and GC positions, it was a day of full gas racing with little opportunity to look up and enjoy the views that stretch as far as the eye could see. \n\t \n\t \tMen\u2019s Racing:<\/strong> Play Day at the FNB Wines2Whales was all about the trails as the route showcased the very best trails that Oak Valley and Paul Cluver have to offer, complete with numerous bridges and an incredible Play Park sponsored by Agrimark on the Paul Cluver Estate. For the teams not competing for stage honours, it was […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":22739,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"featured_location":[],"class_list":["post-12875","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-events"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12875","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12875"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12875\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":62061,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12875\/revisions\/62061"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/22739"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12875"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12875"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12875"},{"taxonomy":"featured_location","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/featured_location?post=12875"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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\n\tThe drama began early in the stage as Matt Beers of Toyota Specialized succumbed to a monumental puncture that required multiple plugs and CO2 canisters to repair, resulting in the team dropping off the pace and having to fight back onto the wheels of the charging group before diving into Vissie\u2019s Magic and the beginning of the Toyota Cruise Section.
\n\t\u00a0
\n\t\u201cThere wasn\u2019t too much playing for me today, I had an early mechanical and it was a massive chase back to the pack. I was the nail and Tristan was the hammer today,\u201d said Matt Beers of Toyota Specialized. \u201cThere are so many trails here that you can\u2019t even keep track of where you are. The trail teams at Oak Valley and Paul Cluver have done so much work and there were so many trails I haven\u2019t ridden before, so it was cool to experience all of this, even though it was tough.\u201d
\n\t\u00a0
\n\tThe pace didn\u2019t let up all day, regardless of the surface over which the teams raced; for the yellow leader jersey wearers, Honeycomb Pro Cycling, it was a day of managing efforts and marking moves.
\n\t\u00a0
\n\t\u201cI knew it was going to be a hectic stage with lots of pressure and we knew the others would attack. I was on the limit for a bit, especially in the trails,\u201d said Konny Looser. \u201cOverall, it was a good day for us with no time loss going into the last day. The strategy for tomorrow is to keep the leader jerseys \u2013 we must stay focused, we know it is going to be hard, but I am looking forward to a big fight.\u201d
\n\t\u00a0
\n\t\u201cToday was more in the others\u2019 hands and they came out swinging,\u201d stated Pritzen. \u201cWe had to make sure that the other teams couldn\u2019t get together and put us under any extra pressure, especially in the trails. But overall, it was a perfect day, even though I could see Phil and Gert were enjoying it a lot more due to their incredible skills on the bike.\u201d
\n\t\u00a0
\n\tThe action of the racing kicked into overdrive within the closing kilometres as a group of four teams, Imbuko {Type}DEV, Toyota Specialized, Honeycomb Pro Cycling and Pyga Euro Steel, proved too strong for their rivals and distanced themselves. Pieter Du Toit and Wessel Botha used tactical \u201csmarts\u201d to position themselves in the front of the group, thus ensuring a clean run through the trails where opportunities to pass were few and far between. In the end, the stage came down to display of watts as Botha and Du Toit went head-to-head with Pritzen and Looser in an exciting sprint for the line.
\n\t\u00a0
\n\tFirst across the line was Botha followed by Pritzen, then Du Toit and finally Looser, resulting in Imbuko {Type}DEV claiming the stage win and Honeycomb Pro Cycling retaining the yellow Ciovita leader jerseys going into the final stage of the 2022 FNB Wines2Whales.
\n\t\u00a0
\n\t\u201cIt was a tough day out there, even though the trails were great. But it\u2019s lekker to win a stage here at the FNB Wines2Whales, it\u2019s my first one and I\u2019ll remember it for a long time.\u201d Smiled Du Toit.
\n\t\u00a0
\n\t\u201cToday was a much better day for us,\u201d explained Wessel Botha about their stage win. \u201cThe top three or four teams stayed in a group for most of the day and we positioned ourselves well throughout the stage. We led into the final singletrack so we could go for the sprint, and it worked perfectly.\u201d
\n\t\u00a0
\n\tAfter Stage 2, Honeycomb Pro Cycling retain their GC lead with Pyga Euro Steel trailing by 40 seconds in second place and Toyota Specialized in third three minutes and 30 seconds back on Looser and Pritzen.
\n\t\u00a0
\n\tToyota Mixed Category:<\/strong>
\n\tIn the Toyota Mixed category, Candice and Darren Lill rode the perfect race to claim the stage win and the Toyota Mixed category leader jerseys. Going into Stage 3, the husband-and-wife team hold a six-minute lead over the MadMacs team, with Moka Rangers SC in third.
\n\t\u00a0
\n\tExxaro Jersey:<\/strong>
\n\tThe race for the light green Exxaro special jersey saw Exxaro\/RMB1\u2019s Tlotlo Selala & Halalisani Ndebele extend their lead over their nearest rivals to over 11 minutes. They are now one stage away from claiming the win in the race within the race and the incredible education bursary prizes on offer from Curro and Stadio.\n<\/p>\n![\"image.jpeg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/image.17af4408f11e27c6aa5e926ce967a43c-1.jpeg\" "\\"\\"")
Image by Sam Clark<\/span><\/span>\n<\/p>\n
\n\tFNB Wines2Whales Shiraz Results \u2013 Stage 2<\/strong>
\n\t\u00a0
\n\tMen\u2019s Racing:<\/strong>
\n\t1. \u00a0 \u00a0 Imbuko {Type}DEV: Wessel Botha & Pieter Du Toit | 02:33:54.4
\n\t2. \u00a0 \u00a0 Honeycomb Pro Cycling: Konny Looser & Marc Pritzen | 02:33:54.5 (+00:00:01)
\n\t3. \u00a0 \u00a0 Toyota Specialized: Matthew Beers & Tristan Nortje | 02:33:55.3 (+00:00:09)
\n\t\u00a0
\n\tMen\u2019s Amateurs:<\/strong>
\n\t1. \u00a0 \u00a0 Hollard Namibia: Martin Freyer & Gerhard Mans | 02:53:30.7
\n\t2. \u00a0 \u00a0 Exxaro\/RMB1: Tlotlo Selala & Halalisani Ndebele | 02:58:20.5 (+00:04:49.8)
\n\t3. \u00a0 \u00a0 Hollard Namibia Life: Christo Swarts & Ingram Cuff | 03:04:01.9 (+00:10:31.2)
\n\t\u00a0
\n\tMen\u2019s Masters:<\/strong>
\n\t1. \u00a0 \u00a0 Uncle fish\/White Ricer Manor: Gerrit De Vries & Giles Fourie | 02:58:26.1
\n\t2. \u00a0 \u00a0 Staffanuti Stocks: Burger Bester & Hendrik Bester | 03:03:45.3 (+00:05:19.2)
\n\t3. \u00a0 \u00a0 RDX Powerbar: Jaco Davel & Andreas Studer | 03:08:20.6 (+00:09:54.5)
\n\t\u00a0\u00a0
\n\tMen\u2019s Grand Masters:<\/strong>
\n\t1. \u00a0 \u00a0 Robert Daniel: Piet Swiegers & Robert Sim | 03:07:11.3
\n\t2. \u00a0 \u00a0 Nitro & Flash: Rowan Williams & Delaney Impey | 03:08:22.3 (+00:01:11)
\n\t3. \u00a0 \u00a0 Primetime: Douglas Burger & Gavin Scholtz | 03:19:52.4 (+00:12:41)
\n\t\u00a0
\n\tMen\u2019s Great Grand Masters:<\/strong>
\n\t1. \u00a0 \u00a0 Anna Foundation Great Grand Masters: Linus Van Onselen & Eben Espach | 03:11:40.9
\n\t2. \u00a0 \u00a0 North & South: Vaughan Ulyate & Jimmy Mills | 03:28:59.7 (+00:17:18.8)
\n\t3. \u00a0 \u00a0 Antipodes Pump For Peach: Bart Meganck & Ross Castle | 03:36:38.2 (+00:24:57.3)
\n\t\u00a0
\n\tMixed:<\/strong>
\n\t1. \u00a0 \u00a0 Ciovita: Candice Lill & Darren Lill | 03:01:37.7
\n\t2. \u00a0 \u00a0 Pitstop Sport: Conway Brett Oliver & Samantha Sanders | 03:03:59 (+00:02:21.3)
\n\t3. \u00a0 \u00a0 Moka Rangers SC: Aurelie Halbwachs & Yannick Lincoln | 03:04:01.5 (+00:02:23.8)
\n\t\u00a0
\n\tFNB Wines2Whales Shiraz General Classification \u2013 Stage 2<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n\t1. \u00a0 \u00a0 Honeycomb Pro Cycling: Konny Looser & Marc Pritzen | 05:21:45.6
\n\t2. \u00a0 \u00a0 Pyga Euro Steel: Philip Buys & Gert Heyns | 05:22:26.3 (+00:00:40.6)
\n\t3. \u00a0 \u00a0 Toyota Specialized: Matthew Beers & Tristan Nortje | 05:25:17 (+00:03:31.4)
\n\t\u00a0
\n\tMen\u2019s Amateurs:<\/strong>
\n\t1. \u00a0 \u00a0 Hollard Namibia: Martin Freyer & Gerhard Mans | 06:05:05.3
\n\t2. \u00a0 \u00a0 Exxaro\/RMB1: Tlotlo Selala & Halalisani Ndebele | 06:21:57.1 (+00:16:51.7)
\n\t3. \u00a0 \u00a0 Exxaro\/Pepto: William Sello Majapholo & Keneth Kabelo Thsukukudu | 06:33:12.2 (+00:28.06.9)
\n\t\u00a0
\n\tMen\u2019s Masters:<\/strong>
\n\t1. \u00a0 \u00a0 Uncle fish\/White Ricer Manor: Gerrit De Vries & Giles Fourie | 06:26:16.7
\n\t2. \u00a0 \u00a0 Staffanuti Stocks: Burger Bester & Hendrik Bester | 06:29:43 (+00:03:26.2)
\n\t3. \u00a0 \u00a0 RDX Powerbar: Jaco Davel & Andreas Studer | 06:34:17.1 (+00:08:00.4)
\n\t\u00a0
\n\tMen\u2019s Grand Masters:<\/strong>
\n\t1. \u00a0 \u00a0 Nitro & Flash: Rowan Williams & Delaney Impey | 06:39:57
\n\t2. \u00a0 \u00a0 Robert Daniel: Piet Swiegers & Robert Sim | 06:46:12.1 (+00:06:15)
\n\t3. \u00a0 \u00a0 Primetime: Douglas Burger & Gavin Scholtz | 07:06:15.6 (+00:26:18.6)
\n\t\u00a0
\n\tMen\u2019s Great Grand Masters:<\/strong>
\n\t1. \u00a0 \u00a0 Anna Foundation Great Grand Masters: Linus Van Onselen & Eben Espach | 06:48:48.9
\n\t2. \u00a0 \u00a0 North & South: Vaughan Ulyate & Jimmy Mills | 07:21:48.9 (+00:32:59.9)
\n\t3. \u00a0 \u00a0 Antipodes Pump For Peach: Bart Meganck & Ross Castle | 07:42:59.3 (+00:54:10.4)
\n\t\u00a0
\n\tMixed:<\/strong>
\n\t1. \u00a0 \u00a0 Ciovita: Candice Lill & Darren Lill | 06:28:12.8
\n\t2. \u00a0 \u00a0 MadMacs: Charles McFall & Yolande De Villiers | 06:34:14 (+00:06:01.1)
\n\t3. \u00a0 \u00a0 Moka Rangers SC: Aurelie Halbwachs & Yannick Lincoln | 06:35:59.5 (+00:07:46.6)
\n\t\u00a0
\n\tExxaro Jersey:<\/strong>
\n\t1. \u00a0 \u00a0 Exxaro\/RMB1: Tlotlo Selala & Halalisani Ndebele | 06:21:57.1
\n\t2. \u00a0 \u00a0 Exxaro\/Pepto: William Sello Majapholo & Keneth Kabelo Tshukukudu | 06:33:12.2 (+00:11:15.1)
\n\t3. \u00a0 \u00a0 Songo-91-Specialized: Zola Ngxakeni & Ntlantla Nonkasa | 06:40:23.4 (+00:18:26.2)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"