![\"image.jpeg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/image.c55409815b6d9e2fee2511610c905b80-1.jpeg\" "\\"\\"")
Efficient Infiniti Insure Rare Street Coffee women raced to a third stage win and the FNB Wines2Whales title. Image by Sam Clark<\/span><\/span>\n<\/p>\n\n\tStage 3 of the FNB Wines2Whales took teams on a 65 kilometre long route with 1 000 metres of climbing from the Oak Valley Estate race village to the finish at Curro Hermanus. In the Women\u2019s racing, the three lead teams dominated the day through the opening kilometres before Candice Lill punctured, causing her and Rola Toyota King Price partner Mariske Strauss to drop back from the bunch. The drama didn\u2019t end there for Lill and Strauss, however.
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\n\t\u201cYou can\u2019t make this up!\u201d Laughed Mariske Strauss before explaining her blood covered arm. \u201cWe had a flat. I dropped my chain, and then Candice roundhouse kicked me off the bike. It was spectacular but I couldn\u2019t stop laughing at the situation; but that\u2019s racing, and we just had to compose ourselves and get to the finish in one piece.
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\n\t\u201cIt\u2019s a choice to stay positive out there,\u201d said Candice Lill. \u201cEvery time that things go badly, Mariske and I have a way of turning things around. We make jokes, we laugh and that keeps the spirits high in the team and we always race as fast as we can.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
\n\t\u00a0 \n\t \n\t \n\tFNB Wines2Whales Chardonnay Stage 3 Results: \n\tWomen\u2019s Amateur category:<\/strong>![\"image.jpeg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/image.aba744093b869fc9fdd544fa1d2b9c11-1.jpeg\" "\\"\\"")
Image by Sam Clark<\/span><\/span>\n<\/p>\n
\n\tThe commotion unfolding behind Le Court and Looser did little to distract the team from the task at hand and the fact that they were racing towards Curro to claim their third stage win, the Ciovita leader jerseys, the FNB Wines2Whales title and the R100 000 prize for first place.
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\n\t\u201cI don\u2019t have words for this!\u201d said an emotional Le Court. \u201cIt\u2019s a dream come true. From when we took Stage 1, the win was definitely in our minds and I hoped that we\u2019d be here at the finish with the jerseys on our backs; I am really happy, and I couldn\u2019t wish for anyone else I\u2019d want to win my first major stage race with.\u201d
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\n\tDespite the fierce competition in the women\u2019s field, there\u2019s an incredible level of respect and camaraderie amongst the professional racers, on and off the bike.
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\n\t\u201cThe amazing thing is that we are all friends, but when that start gun goes off, we race each other,\u201d explained Looser. \u201cThere are no freebies. We sprint for the trails but when we cross the finish line, we are all friends again. That really makes this so special and it\u2019s the reason I love this sport so much.\u201d
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\n\tAs the clouds finally broke and the rain poured down over Curro Hermanus, the FNB Wines2Whales Chardonnay wrapped up in high spirits and low temperatures.
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\n\t\u201cI\u2019m already looking forward to coming back to South Africa next year,\u201d said Luetzelschwab. \u201cIt was a tough first stage race, but Amy was a great partner and I hope we can race more Epic Series races together.
\n\t\u00a0\n<\/p>\n![\"image.jpeg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/image.b037cb4de686301ed247a8d83d113f7c-1.jpeg\" "\\"\\"")
Image by Sam Clark<\/span><\/span>
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\n\tWomen\u2019s Racing:<\/strong>
\n\tEfficient Infiniti Insure Rare Street Coffee: Kim le Court & Vera Looser | 02:53:13.9
\n\tE-fort Symbtech: Amy Wakefield & Irina Luetzelschwab | 02:54:34.5 (+00:01:20.6)
\n\tRola Toyota King Price: Candice Lill & Mariske Strauss | 02:56:03.6 (+00:02:49.7)
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\n\tWomen\u2019s Amateur category:<\/strong>
\n\tAbsa SheUntamed: Marisa Van Der Linde & Brigitte Joubert | 03:35:26
\n\tILOVEBOOBIES Duo: Heather Rossouw & Jade Slabbert | 03:39:18.5 (+00:03:52.4)
\n\tILB Women: Mikayla Benkenstein & Cherise Willeit | 03:44:50.5 (+00:09:24.4)
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\n\tWomen\u2019s Masters category:<\/strong>
\n\tTiletoria Ladies: Hanlie Booyens & Fienie Barnard | 03:14:46.6
\n\tWorld Bicycle Relief: Alisha Myers & Tessa Keers | 03:15:41.6 (+00:00:54.9)
\n\tWoolies\/Pretty Pedal Masters: Nicola Walker & Katerina Slegrova | 03:27:27.6 (+00:12:41)
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\n\tWomen\u2019s Grand Masters category:<\/strong>
\n\tDusty Foxies: Ragna Nilssen & Ingrid Landman | 04:00:28.3
\n\tTalking Heads: Jennifer Cilliers & Imke Van Der Westhuyzen | 04:03:49.9 (+00:03:21.5)
\n\tTeam T&T: Jeanette Treherne & Vivienne Turvey | 04:27:15.8 (+00:26:47.5)
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\n\tFNB Wines2Whales Chardonnay Stage 3 General Classification:
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\n\tWomen\u2019s Racing:<\/strong>
\n\tEfficient Infiniti Insure Rare Street Coffee: Kim le Court & Vera Looser | 09:30.02.1
\n\tE-fort Symbtech: Amy Wakefield & Irina Luetzelschwab | 09:34:20 (+00:04:17.9)
\n\tRola Toyota King Price: Candice Lill & Mariske Strauss | 09:56:33.7 (+00:26:31.6)\n<\/p>\n
\n\tAbsa SheUntamed: Marisa Van Der Linde & Brigitte Joubert | 11:51:04.9
\n\tILOVEBOOBIES Duo: Heather Rossouw & Jade Slabbert | 12:40:46.5 (+00:49:41.6)
\n\tILB Women: Mikayla Benkenstein & Cherise Willeit | 13:16:07.2 (+01:25:02.3)
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\n\tWomen\u2019s Masters category:<\/strong>
\n\tTiletoria Ladies: Hanlie Booyens & Fienie Barnard | 10:48:15
\n\tWorld Bicycle Relief: Alisha Myers & Tessa Keers | 10:50:55.7 (+00:02:40.7)
\n\tWoolies\/Pretty Pedal Masters: Nicola Walker & Katerina Slegrova | 11:19:36.3 (+00:31:21.3)
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\n\tWomen\u2019s Grand Masters category:<\/strong>
\n\tDusty Foxies: Ragna Nilssen & Ingrid Landman | 13:49:48
\n\tTalking Heads: Jennifer Cilliers & Imke Van Der Westhuyzen | 14:07:45.6 (+00:17:45.6)
\n\tTeam T&T: Jeanette Treherne & Vivienne Turvey | 14:46:09.5 (+00:56:21.4)\n<\/p>\n