{"id":16323,"date":"2017-11-03T13:35:00","date_gmt":"2017-11-03T13:35:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/2017\/11\/03\/sauser-looser-claim-stage-one-of-fnb-w2w-mtb-race-r6964\/"},"modified":"2023-02-08T06:20:03","modified_gmt":"2023-02-08T06:20:03","slug":"sauser-looser-claim-stage-one-of-fnb-w2w-mtb-race-r6964","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/sauser-looser-claim-stage-one-of-fnb-w2w-mtb-race-r6964\/","title":{"rendered":"Sauser, Looser claim Stage One of FNB W2W MTB Race"},"content":{"rendered":"

Christoph Sauser and Konny Looser of Team Investec-Songo.info claimed Stage One of the FNB Wines2Whales MTB Race in a lightning fast time of 02 hours 49 minutes 37 seconds at the Oak Valley Wine Estate (Elgin-Grabouw) on Friday, 03 November 2017.<\/p>\n

Starting at Lourensford Wine Estate (Somerset West) the 9th edition of the FNB W2W MTB Race attracted an impressive field of 1340 riders. Before crossing the finish line riders had to complete a 68km route that featured a 1650m ascent and included the Lourensford and Vergelegen climbs, the PERI Vergelegen Bridge, the portage over Gantouw Pass and the A2Z single tracks.<\/p>\n

\"ccs-62657-0-66339400-1509716079.jpg\"<\/a>Konny Looser and Christoph Sauser of Team Investec-Songo.info in action during Stage One of the FNB W2W MTB Race. Photo Credit: Tobias Ginsberg<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGoing into the race we knew that the PYGA boys are really strong,\u201d says Sauser. \u201cLuckily we know how to run. The goal was to get to the portage first. It\u2019s hard to make up time over the next two days. So we put in every second today. We\u2019re hoping to have a fun day on Stage Two, instead of just trying to hang on.\u201d<\/p>\n

Team PYGA Euro Steel 1\u2019s Philip Buys and Matthys Beukes crossed the finish line in second place on the day. \u201cWe should definitely up our running game,\u201d admits Buys. \u201cWe always seem to forget about the portage section. Next time we\u2019ll come more prepared for it. The conditions were good. We managed to make up some time after the portage, but we lost the drag race on the last flat section.\u201d Team PYGA Euro Steel 1 completed Stage One in 02 hour 50 minutes 28 seconds.<\/p>\n

Team NAD Pro MTB\u2019s Nico Bell and Gawie Combrinck rounded off the Stage One podium with a finishing time of 02 hours 53 minutes 26 seconds. \u201cThe pace was hard until the 1st climb,\u201d says Bell. \u201cAfter that we slacked off. The teams stuck together, waiting for the portage. Christoph and Konny just ran away from us there. The stage was really enjoyable. Not too hot. The wet trails settled the dust nicely.\u201d<\/p>\n

The women\u2019s race was led by Team Meerendal CBC\u2019s Jennie Stenerhag and Adelheid Morath. \u201cIt was tough out there,\u201d says Stenerhag. \u201cWe got away on the first climb. I set the pace at the start, but Adelheid later took over. She\u2019s really strong. I\u2019m not a runner, so I definitely walked the portage section. Vera and Adrian kept catching us. We went really hard on the last section. We only have one goal. Going into Stage Two we will try our best to defend our lead.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"ccs-62657-0-61730600-1509716075.jpg\"<\/a>Team Meerendal CBC\u2019s Adelheid Morath and Jennie Stenerhag in action during Stage One of the FNB W2W MTB Race. Photo Credit: David Tarpey<\/span><\/p>\n

Team Meerendal CBC completed stage one in 03 hours 19 minutes 50 seconds.<\/p>\n

Team Dormakaba\u2019s Candice Lill and Vera Adrian secured the second spot on the podium. \u201cIt was a tight race,\u201d says Lill. \u201cWe could always see Jennie and Adelheid. We\u2019re stoked with our performance today. The field of women is really good this year and so is the prize money. I love seeing so many strong women\u2019s teams on the start line. The future looks good for women\u2019s racing.\u201d
Team Velocity Sports Lab\u2019s Carmen Buchacher and Michelle Vorster finished third.<\/p>\n

Husband and wife duo Martin and Jeannie Dreyer of Team Merchants claimed the top spot on the podium in the mixed team race in a time of 03 hours 35 minutes 22 seconds. \u201cBeing in Cape Town and riding in the rain today is really special,\u201d says Martin. \u201cI had a lovely time out on route with my wife. Being in the mixed team race, you never really know where you\u2019ve placed until you cross the finish line. Over the next two stages we\u2019ll have to keep our wits about us.\u201d<\/p>\n

Team SAICA\u2019s Ila and Darryn Stow came in second, while Team Jowetts Racing\u2019s Natalie Bergstrom and Warren Price finished third.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

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