![\"ccs-62657-0-32902900-1494600104.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-62657-0-32902900-1494600104.jpg\")
<\/a>PYGA Euro Steel’s Philip Buys and Matthys Beukes were prominent on the front of the group during the neutral second stage of the 2017 KAP sani2c from Mackenzie Club to Jolivet on Friday. Anthony Grote\/ Gameplan Media<\/span><\/p>\nRiders were informed they had to complete the shortened route in order to be able to compete for positions on Saturday\u2019s final stage to the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast. With a large amount of tar road riding on the cards, riders were able to take a leisurely ride to the second overnight stop at Jolivet just outside Highflats.<\/p>\n
The trying weather continued through Friday with temperatures just creeping over 10 degrees along with a driving wind and persistent rain. The conditions made for some testing times with riders caked in mud from their forays off the tar.<\/p>\n
Despite the testing conditions, riders took the elements in their stride as they sniffed a shot at making up for the neutral stage on their Saturday charge to the ocean.<\/p>\n The sprint to the Indian Ocean on Saturday is going to be an exciting shootout with conditions and times suggesting that the racing could be tight. PYGA Euro Steel\u2019s Philip Buys and Matthys Beukes hold a 44-second lead over NAD Pro MTB\u2019s Gawie Combrinck and Nico Bell with Team BCX\u2019s Waylon Woolcock and HB Kruger a further nine seconds behind in third place.<\/p>\n In the women\u2019s showdown, the dark-horse pair of Valencia Ladies\u2019 Sam Sanders and Amy Mcdougall are in an unexpected pole position with a one minute 47 second advantage over defending champions dormakaba\u2019s Candice Lill and Vera Adrian.<\/p>\n In third and hoping to make up for a poor opening stage is the Ascendis Health pairing of Mariska Strauss and Robyn de Groot. But they are just over ten minutes behind the leaders and unlikely to have enough time to improve their position on the fast 82km stage between Jolivet and the finish line on Saturday.<\/p>\n Friday saw the conclusion of the Adventure event as riders made their way from Jolivet to Scottburgh. The conditions were just as trying for the field in that event as they tackled the route to the finish.<\/p>\n<\/a>Douw and Gerrit du Preez looked to be having a great time during the neutral second stage of the 2017 KAP sani2c from Mackenzie Club to Jolivet on Friday. Anthony Grote\/ Gameplan Media<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a>One part of the leading Valencia Ladies’ duo Amy Mcdougall (far left) was joined by the dormakaba pair of Candice Lill and Vera Adrian during the neutral second stage of the 2017 KAP sani2c from Mackenzie Club to Jolivet on Friday. Anthony Grote\/ Gameplan Media<\/span><\/p>\n