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<\/a>(front to back): Team Spur\u2019s Ariane Kleinhans and Cherie Redecker in action during Stage Two of the FNB W2W MTB Race. Photo Credit: David Tarpey<\/span><\/p>\nBoth the men\u2019s and women\u2019s race ended in an exciting sprint finish with Team Kross Bikes BiXS Pro\u2019s Konny Looser and Fabian Giger pipping Team Investec-Songo-Specialized\u2019s Christoph Sauser and Sam Gaze to the finish, while Team Spur\u2019s Ariane Kleinhans and Cherie Redecker outsprinted Team Ascendis Health\u2019s Robyn De Groot and Jennie Stenerhag.<\/p>\n
\u201cToday was absolutely great,\u201d says Giger. \u201cThe W2W routes are great, the food is good and there\u2019s a really nice vibe.\u201d Team Kross Bikes BiXS Pro completed Stage Two in a lightning fast time of 02 hours 34 minutes 17 seconds. Investec-Songo-Specialized\u2019s Christoph Sauser and Sam Gaze came in second, while Team Telkom\u2019s Hendrik Kruger and Johann Rabie finished third.<\/p>\n
According to Looser, the plan was to go out as hard as possible. \u201cWe battled with Team Investec-Songo-Specialized. We tried everything, but they just stayed on our wheels. We are happy with the stage win.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI can\u2019t believe how amazing the trails are,\u201d says Gaze. \u201cRiding with Sauser is a real pleasure. I learn something new every day. My game plan for Stage Three is just to hang onto Sauser and survive. I am looking forward to it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cW2W is a benchmark event,\u201d says Sauser. \u201cEach year you think that it\u2019s impossible for the event to improve, but each year the organizers are a step ahead. There is always a good field. Our revs are always at its highest.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is the first time that I get \u2018chicked\u2019 on the finish,\u201d says Karl Platt of Team Bulls referring to De Groot and Stenerhage beating them to the finish. \u201cWe\u2019ve just come out of our off season, having had a good time at the beer festival in Germany. Coming into the event we decided that we\u2019d see how our legs felt, but we knew that we wouldn\u2019t be here to win. Today\u2019s stage was fun, there was a lot of single track and the weather was really nice. W2W is something special. There is such a nice, relaxing atmosphere.\u201d<\/p>\n
Team Spur\u2019s Ariane Kleinhans and Cherie Redecker claimed the Stage Two victory in 02 hours 55 minutes 54 seconds. \u201cW2W can\u2019t get better,\u201d says Kleinhans. \u201cWe went flat out from the gun. Team Ascendis Health brought their A game. They are really strong and kept attacking. We\u2019re really happy to be able to get ahead of them and cross the finish line first. Tomorrow we\u2019ll give our all. Anything can happen in mountain biking.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe struggled to get away,\u201d says De Groot. \u201cTeam Spur tried, but we managed to stick with them. We lost nothing and gained nothing today. W2W is a wonderful race. It\u2019s the attention to detail that stands out. The pros definitely look forward to it every year.\u201d Team Dormakaba Time Freight\u2019s Candice Neethling and Vera Adrian rounded off the podium on the day.<\/p>\n
Team Merchants\u2019 Martin and Jeannie Dreyer claimed gold in the mixed team race in an impressive time of 03 hours 15 minutes 57 seconds. Team SAICA Global Asp Ila\u2019s Stow and Marc Wells came in second, while Team CFP CYCLETEC Mixed\u2019s Genevieve Weber and Nichol Jordaan finished third.<\/p>\n
Going into Stage Three, Team Investec-Songo-Specialized\u2019s Christoph Sauser and Sam Gaze is leading the men\u2019s race, followed by Team Kross Bikes BiXS Pro\u2019s Konny Looser and Fabian Giger in second place and Team Telkom\u2019s Hendrik Kruger and Johann Rabie in third place.<\/p>\n
Team Ascendis Health\u2019s Robyn De Groot and Jennie Stenerhage are currently leading the women\u2019s race, followed by Team Spur\u2019s Ariane Kleinhans and Cherie Redecker in second place and Team Dormakaba Time Freight\u2019s Candice Neethling and Vera Adrian in third place.<\/p>\n
Team Merchants\u2019 Martin and Jeannie Dreyer are in the lead in the mixed team race, followed by Team SAICA Global Asp Ila\u2019s Stow and Marc Wells and Team CFP CYCLETEC Mixed\u2019s Genevieve Weber and Nichol Jordaan.<\/p>\n
After breaking the ice on Stage One, Stage Two treated riders to what has affectionately become known as the W2W\u2019s \u2018Play Day\u2019. Consisting of a fun-filled 64km route (with 1400m ascent), Stage Two includes some of W2W\u2019s most iconic sections such as: the Paul Cluver Amphi Bike Park with well-known MTB features including Raka, Swing, Ark, Cobra (switch-backs), Mamba, Boomslang, Pofadder, Jakkels, Pine Singles (now with dual and cross-overs) and the Berms. The day\u2019s action was closed off with the upgraded triple storeyed KROMCO-PERI Bike Park, which stands an impressive 6 \u2013 8m above ground.<\/p>\n
Stage Three of the 2016 FNB W2W MTB Race<\/strong>, the final destination stage from the winelands to the ocean, will see riders leave the Race Village at Oak Valley Wine Estate (Elgin-Grabouw) on Sunday, 13 November 2016, take on a 69km journey (with 1200m climb) before crossing the finish line at Onrus Caravan Park (just outside Hermanus).<\/p>\n Stage Three: Sunday 13 November 2016<\/strong><\/p>\n Start Time:<\/strong> 07:00
Start Venue: <\/strong> Oak Valley Wine Estate (Elgin-Grabouw)
Finish Venue:<\/strong> Onrus Caravan Park (just outside Hermanus).
Distance & Climb:<\/strong> 69km \/ 1200m<\/p>\n