![\"ccs-62657-0-90877500-1492957685.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-62657-0-90877500-1492957685.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a>HB Kruger (front) and Waylon Woolcock, of BCX, lead the way en route to their third stage win and overall victory in the Liberty Winelands Encounter, in partnership with STANLIB, near Wellington in the Boland today. Photo: Ewald Sadie<\/span><\/p>\nUsing the same strategy as before, the BCX duo were again able to build up a lead during the first half of the 48km final stage in the Wellington area en route to winning in 1:49:34.<\/p>\n
On the day, they were followed by Versus Socks\u2019 Jurgens Uys and Nicol Carstens (1:51:07) and TIB Insurance-Momsen Valley Light\u2019s Andrew Hill and Marco Joubert (1:52:34).<\/p>\n
Woolcock and Kruger sealed the title with an overall racing time of 6:18:53, ahead of Hill and Joubert (6:28:01) and Uys and Carstens (6:30:57).<\/p>\n
Sweden\u2019s Jennie Stenerhag added the women\u2019s title to the Cape Epic crown she won last month when she and her Cape Brewing Company teammate Katie Lennard completed a comfortable overall victory in 7:38:48.<\/p>\n
Reflecting on the race, Woolcock said he felt their success had been built on the opening stage when they created a three-minute lead which they gradually increased.<\/p>\n \u201cWe came here with a goal of winning the race and we always knew it would be important to get a gap on the opening day,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cBesides giving you a buffer, it also gives you a mental head start on the rest if you can show you are the strongest.<\/p>\n \u201cWe went hard from the start on the first day on probably the toughest stage of the three, so that set up our advantage.\u201d<\/p>\n Kruger said they began the final leg with the aim of staying near the front and avoiding mechanicals or crashes.<\/p>\n \u201cWe managed to get a gap fairly early on and then rode at a steady tempo and it was cool to win our third stage in a row,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cAs we both come from the region \u2013 I\u2019m from Paarl and Waylon from Stellenbosch \u2013 it was very satisfying to win this title. It gives us a positive attitude looking ahead to our next races.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/a>Katie Lennard (front) and Sweden\u2019s Jennie Stenerhag, of Cape Brewing Company, took the honours in the women\u2019s race of the Liberty Winelands Encounter, in partnership with STANLIB, which finished near Wellington in the Boland today. Photo: Ewald Sadie<\/span><\/p>\n