{"id":15700,"date":"2018-10-26T11:05:00","date_gmt":"2018-10-26T10:05:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/2018\/10\/26\/lill-and-morath-dominate-the-opening-day-of-fnb-wines2whales-r7592\/"},"modified":"2023-02-08T05:38:43","modified_gmt":"2023-02-08T05:38:43","slug":"lill-and-morath-dominate-the-opening-day-of-fnb-wines2whales-r7592","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/lill-and-morath-dominate-the-opening-day-of-fnb-wines2whales-r7592\/","title":{"rendered":"Lill and Morath dominate the opening day of FNB Wines2Whales"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Summit pairing of Candice Lill and Adelheid Morath tore the women\u2019s field asunder on the opening day of the FNB Wines2Whales Chardonnay event, on Friday 26 October 2018. The South African\/German combination attacked from the gun, on the climb to Lourensford Neck. They steadily extended the gap to 11 minutes and 39 seconds by the finish line at Oak Valley Estate, where they were followed across the line by three teams sprinting for second position.<\/p>\n

\"ccs-62657-0-59953900-1540551850.jpg\"<\/a>Candice Lill and Adelheid Morath.<\/span><\/p>\n

The three-way tussle for second included the Spur, Silverback CBC and Ascendis Health teams. Superior positional awareness within the group saw Mariske Strauss and Jennie Stenerhag pip their rivals in the race for the minor places. There was still drama to unfold however as a protest was lodged against Ariane L\u00fcthi and Babara Benko \u2013 for exceeding the 2-minute separation rule at water point three.<\/p>\n

For the first time in South African mountain biking history the elite women started at the front of the field in a major stage race, when the Chardonnay event got underway from Lourensford Wine Estate. With no men ahead of them on the trails, to interfere with the women\u2019s competition, the opening day of the 2018 FNB Wines2Whales was treated to exceptional racing from Lill and Morath in particular.<\/p>\n

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\u201cWe said [to each other before the stage] if we\u2019re in good shape then we will make it from the beginning,\u201d Morath said on the finish line at Oak Valley Estate. \u201cWe know we are both good at climbing so there was no need to wait, just go\u201d the German cross-country star reflected. Adding to Morath\u2019s assessment Lill supplemented: \u201cWe just decided to put our heads down and go. We didn\u2019t look back.\u201d<\/p>\n

Behind the Summit pairing the Spur and Silverback CBC teams jostled for position on the trails. After having held second early on, Strauss and Stenerhag were overtaken by L\u00fcthi and Benko before the second water point at Idiom Wines. The Spur combination ascended the Gantouw Pass looking to reduce the deficit to the leaders Lill and Morath but a wrong turn by L\u00fcthi caused them to become separated. In the confusion Benko reached the water point at the Grabouw Country Club two and a half minutes ahead of her partner, exceeding the two minute gap which is allowed between teammates. As a result they received an hour time penalty as per event regulations.<\/p>\n

\u201cBabara (Benko) had slipped slightly and was a corner behind me\u201d L\u00fcthi explained. \u201cSuddenly she didn\u2019t realise I had taken a wrong turn and she thought I was ahead, so she was chasing really hard. It was only at the water point that she realised that I was actually behind her. The rest is history\u201d the Swiss marathon champion concluded.<\/p>\n

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In the final kilometres leading into Oak Valley L\u00fcthi and Benko were caught by the Ascendis Health team of Robyn de Groot and Michelle Vorster. Then the two teams, working together reeled in Silverback CBC. This set up a chaotic sprint for second, which Stenerhag and Strauss won.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat was quite hard\u201d laughed second placed Strauss as the dust settled. Looking back on how the stage unfolded she added: \u201cI was kind of expecting it. She (Lill) is going really well at the moment. I just came off a break and Jennie (Stenerhag) is getting back into training after her injury so I think our aim was just to do what we could and see how our legs went.\u201d<\/p>\n

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FNB Wines2Whales is famous for its spectacular trails and the leading women enjoyed them at their uncrowned best. Though Stage 2 is the play day the addition of new singletracks, especially in Lourensford for the tenth edition has improved the riding on the opening day. \u201cBasically most of the race was trails\u201d stage winner Lill recounted. The earlier start also played into the riders enjoyment by Lill\u2019s reckoning: \u201cIt was hot and windy heading up the Pass. But in Elgin it was great.\u201d<\/p>\n

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The elite women were eager to praise the separation of the women\u2019s race from the men\u2019s. The Chardonnay, the first of the three FNB Wines2Whales races, is designated for women\u2019s racing and R100 000 will be paid to the winning team on Sunday afternoon in Hermanus. \u201cIt was awesome. To be able to dictate the race and play our own tactics, it changes the race completely. It is more fair\u201d Lill concluded. Strauss agreed with Lill\u2019s assessment of the entirely separate women\u2019s race, but was also keen to highlight the benefits to the sponsors. \u201cWith the women racing on their own we get all the media attention which is great for our sponsors\u201d the South African cross-country champion enthused.<\/p>\n

After Lill and Morath\u2019s dominant performance on Stage 1 the likes of Strauss, Stenerhag, De Groot and Vorster have it all to do on Stage 2. The second stage of the race features a 66 kilometre route with 1 350 meters of climbing. To follow the action from home mountain biking fans can visit www.wines2whales.com or follow @w2wmtb.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

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