![\"ccs-62657-0-44704300-1492880745.jpeg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-62657-0-44704300-1492880745.jpeg\")
<\/a>Riders make their way out of Frankfort on day 2 of the 2017 Old Mutual joBerg2c. The 93km stage saw the 820 participants finish in the Eastern Free State town of Reitz. Credit Em Gatland.<\/span><\/p>\nThe first timed day of the event also threw up an interesting result in the Lanham-Love Mixed Category, with Darren and Candice Lill (dormakaba) crossing the line first (03:16:10). Darren Lill of course retired from professional cycling last year, so his effort alongside his wife Candice on day 2 is rather impressive.<\/p>\n
The racing and riding on day 2 took the 820 joberg2c participants – including almost 200 foreign riders – from Frankfort to Reitz. The 93km stage started cold and clear as riders made their way out of Frankfort and along the banks of the glassy Wilge river. In general, it was a day of fast district roads broken up by exciting single track.<\/p>\n
The Lanham-Love Mixed Category is definitely the category to watch at the 2017 Old Mutual joBerg2c, with a number of strong teams in contention. On the first day of racing, it was the dormakaba duo who drew first blood. Candice Lill said the stage was tougher than it looked, but felt the day was filled with positives.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe managed to get a good gap in the beginning. On these roads there is no backing off because if you do, you might land up in no man\u2019s land. So Darren and myself had to work hard to stay with some of the men and in the end we did.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe last part was some great single track but the little hill in the end was a surprising sting in the tail. Overall it was a good day.\u201d<\/p>\n
An out-of-breath Darren Lill said the win was welcomed, but there is a tough task ahead for the rest of the race.<\/p>\n
\u201cToday was a bit of a shock to the system. I felt slightly better than I\u2019d anticipated, but I can definitely feel that I haven\u2019t been racing. I\u2019m not able to help Candice as much as last year with pushing and pulling, but fortunately she is a lot stronger this year and it doesn’t look like we are going to need that from me – I\u2019ve just got to survive!\u201d<\/p>\n
Grant Usher and Amy Beth McDougall (Lanham-Love Valencia) finished shortly behind for Lanham Love Valencia (3:18:36).<\/p>\n Usher, looking fit and relaxed, said the day was manageable, \u201cIt seems as though it\u2019s been quite a mild start this year compared to previous years. We were with the lead group in the first part of the morning and then the guys put on a bit of pressure, and from there I think we were just two too many riders back and Candice and Darren got away with a really strong surge.<\/p>\n \u201cHaving said that, I think we rode nicely, rode within ourselves and limited our losses – it was a really good day with perfect weather and no wind,\u201d said Usher.<\/p>\n McDougall is excited by the thought of a tough competition throughout the coming week, \u201cIt\u2019s always nice to have lots of competition around – it\u2019s going to be hard and I\u2019m looking forward to it.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m feeling good for what is to come. I struggled in the beginning so Grant and I were on our own the whole way but we kept a comfortable pace – not ideal but let\u2019s wait and see!\u201d<\/p>\n Catherine Williamson of The Bicycle Company Mitas says the mixed field is the same as last year but the addition of of Yolandi du Toit and Ben Melt Swanepoel to the racing this year makes things even more exciting, \u201cI think the other two teams are stronger this year, so I can see us battling with Yolandi and Ben throughout.<\/p>\n \u201cI think it\u2019s going to be a tale of those two and us two which is great but you never know what is going to happen. We will try and stay on the podium though and one day maybe bring in a win,\u201d shared Williamson.<\/p>\n Ben Melt Swanepoel said he is thrilled about the rivalry as it really highlights the best aspects of mountain biking.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was brilliant racing. Barring the men\u2019s category I think the mixed category is probably the strongest and this is great for the sport because it means it\u2019s growing and introducing more ladies into the sport. We had a tough battle out there. There is a whole week to go and we are going to keep fighting. In the men\u2019s race, Nico Bell was pleased to have a strong first official day. Despite their convincing lead, he said the stage win didn\u2019t come without pressure.<\/p>\n \u201cToday there was loads of big open roads with some single track every now and then. We pushed the pace a bit on the single track. There was a long drag up to water point one and the guys behind us were right on our wheels, but we kept going. From there we were able to ride away and kept it fast on the downhill,\u201d said Bell.<\/p>\n Although PYGA Euro Steel now face a time deficit, Beukes says there is still more than enough time to challenge NAD Pro MTB and is thankful their result today wasn’t decided by fitness.<\/p>\n \u201cUnfortunately near the day\u2019s start a piece of wire got caught in Phil\u2019s drivetrain and Nico and Gawie took the chance with that to try and get a lead on us. But today was still a lekker drag race.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is still a long way to go – these open roads don\u2019t really suit us and I think we don\u2019t want to burn too many matches, we are going to wait to for the real mountain biking later in the week,\u201d said Beukes.<\/p>\n Day 3 is one of the two longest days at the Old Mutual joBerg2c, so the racing elite and the riders will enjoy a long day in the saddle. The 122km route takes participants from Reitz in the Eastern Free State to the vast Sterkfontein Dam in the Drakensberg. Th>e highlights of the day include “Jabulani”, a winding riverside single track, and the descent of Mt Paul. Depending on the wind direction, the dam wall finish along the Sterkfontein Dan can either be heavenly of hellish.<\/p>\n View the full Old Mutual joBerg2c day 2 results here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/a>A joBerg2c participant made a deal to meet some local farmers on the route between Frankfort and Reitz on day 2 of the event; he said he would bring the wine if they brought the braai. Both parties duly obliged. Credit Em Gatland.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a>Day 2 of the 2017 Old Mutual joBerg2c was a 93km ride from Frankfort to Reitz; here riders make their down one of the single track sections on the day. Credit Em Gatland.<\/span><\/p>\n