![\"ccs-62657-0-45772300-1607003764.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-62657-0-45772300-1607003764.jpg\")
<\/a>Gert Heyns DSV (front) and PYGA Eurosteel Phil Buys. Photo: Anthony Grote.<\/span><\/p>\nPYGA Euro Steel\u2019s Matthys Beukes and Phil Buys were over the line over 4 minutes behind team DSV in a time of 03:04:24. The 22 year old Henry Liebenberg took the first solo rider category finishing with the PYGA Euro Steel duo. (03:05:25). The third team in was Insect Science\u2019s Brendan van Eeden and Keagan Bontekoning (03:09:45).<\/p>\n
DSV\u2019s du Toit: \u201cAbout 5kms before the floating bridges at the first main climb of the day, we made it quite hard up there just testing everyone out, we thought they [PYGA Euro Steel] would be the main competition. From there on we could use our technical skills to our advantage – Sani is not known as a technical race but the mud made it hardcore technical which really suits us. I just followed Gert, he is probably the best line reader in South Africa.\u201d<\/p>\n
Heyns: \u201cThe slippery conditions made it a bit more more exciting actually, all the trails had pretty good grip for how wet it is. It was more of a mess on the open roads and all the puddles, but we managed to power through them and it looks like we have a good gap.\u201d<\/p>\n
Matthys Beukes: \u201cThe weather conditions were actually perfect. It was smooth riding, there was no dust, its usually winter time and dry and dusty. I struggled to go into the red zone on the first climb and from there on we were just chasing. Arno and Gert were too strong, we did what we could to manage the losses.\u201d<\/p>\n Phil Buys: \u201cIt was a tough first day, tougher than usual. Arno and Gert had us under pressure from early on so it was difficult to keep it cool and reel in the time.<\/p>\n We missed one turn about 15-20 kms to to the end, we did not lose too much time but it added more pressure. Tomorrow we will have to make up time, it is probably the only day we can make up a lot of time, so we just need to keep it cool and make the right calls tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n The young Insect Science team take the Young Guns (under 23) category win and were very pleased with their third place overall.<\/p>\n Bontekoning: \u201cVery happy to be in third place. The beginning was very chilled, then it split up to about five teams, then after the first water bridge, on the climb they really started attacking and DSV got away. We rode with PYGA the whole day, they got away at a few places and then on this last climb they got a gap on us.\u201d<\/p>\n Van Eeden: \u201cWe worked well as a team, managed our effort and looking forward to tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n The dormakaba women powered through to the finish and were very happy to get the Stage 1 win, with a nearly five minute gap between them and the second women\u2019s team in, Galileo Risk Infiniti\u2019s Sarah Hill and Theresa Ralph (03:31:14).<\/p>\n<\/a>Gert Heyns (left) and Arno du Toit. Photo: Maryann Shaw.<\/span><\/p>\n