{"id":16320,"date":"2017-11-05T11:25:00","date_gmt":"2017-11-05T11:25:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/2017\/11\/05\/pyga-euro-steel-and-meerendal-cbc-crowned-2017-fnb-w2w-race-champions-r6968\/"},"modified":"2023-02-08T06:19:54","modified_gmt":"2023-02-08T06:19:54","slug":"pyga-euro-steel-and-meerendal-cbc-crowned-2017-fnb-w2w-race-champions-r6968","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/pyga-euro-steel-and-meerendal-cbc-crowned-2017-fnb-w2w-race-champions-r6968\/","title":{"rendered":"PYGA Euro Steel and Meerendal CBC crowned 2017 FNB W2W Race Champions"},"content":{"rendered":"

PYGA Euro Steel 1\u2019s Matthys Beukes and Philip Buys claimed their second stage victory and the overall Champions Title after Stage Three of the FNB Wines2Whales (W2W) MTB Race at Onrus Caravan Park on Sunday, 05 November 2017.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not often that things work out according to plan,\u201d says Beukes. \u201cGoing into the stage, we knew that we would have to do something at the 40km mark. We sat on the wheels a bit up the drag, and then increased our pace. It\u2019s been a great year. We couldn\u2019t be happier about our win.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"ccs-62657-0-09110400-1509881152.jpg\"<\/a>Philip Buys and Matthys Beukes of Team PYGA Euro Steel 1 in action during Stage Three of the FNB Wines2Whales (W2W) MTB Race. Photo Credit: Tobias Ginsberg<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis is my first W2W win,\u201d admits Buys. \u201cEverything worked out well over the three days. W2W is a great race to end the season off with.\u201d<\/p>\n

PYGA Euro Steel 1 completed Stage Three in an impressive time of 02 hours 30 minutes 08 seconds. They claimed the overall victory (after three days of racing) in a combined time of 07 hours 59 minutes 48 seconds over the 210km distance (three stages combined).
Team Investec-Songo.info\u2019s Konny Looser and Christoph Sauser claimed the second spot on the podium, while Team NAD Pro MTB\u2019s Gawie Combrinck and Nico Bell finished third.<\/p>\n

\u201cI expected this to be the result,\u201d admits Sauser. \u201cI had to dig deep the first two days, and just didn\u2019t have the base. The best team definitely won. They deserve it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI enjoyed the weekend\u2019s racing,\u201d says Looser. \u201cThere was a big fight on route today. It\u2019s been super exciting. It\u2019s always nice riding with Christoph. Team PYGA were clever in their riding strategy. They definitely deserve the win. W2W has been great. The route was awesome.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s always nice fishing at the sea,\u201d says Bell. \u201cW2W is a really enjoyable race. Now we plan to reset and hopefully have a good year in 2018.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the women\u2019s race Stage Three was claimed by Team Dormakaba\u2019s Candice Lill and Vera Adrian.<\/p>\n

Team Meerendal CBC\u2019s Jennie Stenerhag and Adelheid Morath pipped Team Valencia Ladies\u2019 Samantha Sanders and Amy Mcdougall to the finish claiming the 2nd and 3rd spots on the podium respectively for the stage.<\/p>\n

\"ccs-62657-0-67619300-1509881056.jpg\"<\/a>Team Meerendal CBC\u2019s Jennie Stenerhag and Adelheid Morath in action during Stage Three of the FNB Wines2Whales (W2W) MTB Race. Photo Credit: David Tarpey<\/span><\/p>\n

Team Meerendal CBC\u2019s remarkable efforts over the three days however secured them the coveted title of 2017 FNB W2W MTB Champions in the women\u2019s race. Team Meerendal CBC completed three days of racing in a deserving combined time of 09 hours 15 minutes 52 seconds.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt feels great to end the year off with a win,\u201d says Stenerhag. \u201cAlthough we had a good lead going into Stage Three, we knew that with mountain biking anything can happen. We did what we could today, but I didn\u2019t have anything left on the climbs. I\u2019ve taken part in W2W six times. I love the trails. This is definitely the best event that I\u2019ve ever taken part in. The Prize Money has also done a lot for women\u2019s racing. W2W is an awesome way to end the season.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cW2W is a great event,\u201d says Morath. \u201cI really enjoyed it and am happy to be here.\u201d<\/p>\n

Team Dormakaba\u2019s Candice Lill and Vera Adrian claimed second place, with Team Valencia Ladies\u2019 Samantha Sanders and Amy Mcdougall rounding off the podium after three days of racing.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe had a really good start,\u201d says Lill. \u201cWe knew that it was important to get to the front to reach the single track first. Once in the single track we pushed the pace. We had a positive race and are happy with today. It was a fantastic way to close off our partnership.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe worked on our master plan last night,\u201d laughs Adrian. \u201cIt worked perfectly today. We stayed in front. I was able to ride my pace and we gave it our all on the climbs. W2W is a partner race. We definitely rode as a team.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOur plan was to do our best,\u201d says Sanders. \u201cYou can only go as hard as the body allows. Our effort was good enough for third place. The event has been awesome. W2W really is incredible. The trails are immaculate.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI need to work on my sprinting skill,\u201d laughs Mcdougall. \u201cThere was a lot of pain, but W2W was a lot of fun.\u201d<\/p>\n

It was a hat-trick stage victory for husband and wife duo Martin and Jeannie Dreyer of Team Merchants. They firmly secured the title of Mixed Team Champions in a combined time of 09 hours 57 minutes 21 seconds.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m chuffed that we were able to claim three stage victories,\u201d says Jeannie. \u201cWe definitely don\u2019t train the intensity for this type of race.<\/p>\n

I guess it just shows that our heads are in it. W2W is a magic, gem of an event. It\u2019s slick, neat and clean. There\u2019s no suffering or discomfort. It\u2019s a real treat.\u201d<\/p>\n

Team SAICA\u2019s Ila and Darryn Stow claimed the second spot on the podium after three days of racing, while Team Coach1\/Globe Flight\u2019s Ian Martin and Louise Ferreira finished third.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

\n