![\"ccs-62657-0-50301900-1520405594.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-62657-0-50301900-1520405594.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a>Dimension Data\u2019s Stefan de Bod made it a hat-trick of individual time-trial titles in the second stage of the Bestmed Tour of Good Hope, presented by Scicon and the City of Drakenstein, when he completed the 26.5km course in 32:30 at the Boland Agricultural School just outside Paarl in the Cape Winelands today. Photo: Robert Ward<\/span><\/p>\nTaking second place on the day was his teammate and 2017 champion Kent Main, who completed the stage in 33:20, followed by ProTouch\u2019s HB Kruger a further 15 seconds adrift.<\/p>\n
The 21-year-old De Bod, who had set himself the target of beating last year\u2019s winning time on the 26.5km course, said he was happy with his hat-trick in South Africa\u2019s premier road stage race.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe finish line today was slightly different to last year, making it a bit shorter, but I still managed to beat my time by 50 seconds,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith the slight change, that probably meant I was about 40 seconds quicker than in 2017 and in a short time-trial such as this it\u2019s quite a lot. I definitely showed some improvement.\u201d<\/p>\n
De Bod, who lives in nearby Stellenbosch, said at the halfway stage he thought he may have started a bit too fast.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut, in fact, I was able to keep up my power until the end, so my pacing turned out to be perfect.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat made it a really good time-trial for me. I pushed a bit harder because it was a relatively short distance and it all worked out well.\u201d<\/p>\n
He added that the team\u2019s focus now would be to work hard to protect the yellow jersey.<\/p>\n
De Bod said it would be a matter of good teamwork and smart tactics as they went about maintaining their grip on the race.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe team is working well together and each year things are becoming a bit more professional and the riders are getting more mature,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are a happy outfit and will definitely be aiming for a few more stage victories.\u201d<\/p>\n
Spur\u2019s former champion Ariane Luthi finally cracked her first time-trial victory in a race she has been doing for more than five years when she sped over the line in 40:25.<\/p>\n
Mauritian Aurelie Halbwachs was second, six seconds slower, followed by Demacon\u2019s national road champion Carla Oberholzer in 41:18.<\/p>\n \u201cAs a mountain biker where you need a threshold effort for a long period I felt I was suited to the time-trial and I\u2019m very pleased to take the win,\u201d said Luthi, who leads overall after being second in the bunch finish yesterday.<\/p>\n \u201cThere were quite a few rollers on the route, but I have learnt some time-trial tactics over the years and although I\u2019m not a specialist, that experience helped me today.\u201d<\/p>\n She said she \u201cleft it all out there\u201d and just had to manage the pain as she pushed hard all the way to the finish.<\/p>\n \u201cThe overall title is my focus so today was very important for that,\u201d added Luthi.<\/p>\n \u201cTomorrow is a mountain-top finish and you have to be very attentive to any breakaways during the stage.\u201d<\/p>\n The riders will face a 137km test with 2 687m of vertical ascent, ending on top of Du Toitskloof Pass.<\/p>\n Presented by Scicon and the City of Drakenstein, the 491km race ends at the Taal Monument just outside Paarl on Friday.<\/p>\n<\/a>Spur\u2019s Ariane Luthi won her first individual time-trial in the Bestmed Tour of Good Hope, presented by Scicon and the City of Drakenstein, when she completed the 26.5km course in 40:25 at the Boland Agricultural School just outside Paarl in the Cape Winelands today. Photo: Robert Ward<\/span><\/p>\n