![\"ccs-62657-0-44167600-1475242906.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-62657-0-44167600-1475242906.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a>Fedauto’s Reinhard Zellhuber (left) and Marc Fourie (right) charged to victory in the opening stage of the 2016 Fedauto Sani Dragon in association with Mortimer Toyota. Anthony Grote\/ Gameplan Media<\/span><\/p>\nThe talented young Fedauto duo took on the chilly early morning conditions and their competitors alike as they surged to the front of the intimate field from the get-go and soon opened up an unassailable lead over the Dream Team chase pair of Hendrik Bester and Brennan Anderson.<\/p>\n
Try as they may, Amanzimtoti\u2019s Bester and Anderson were powerless in preventing Kokstad\u2019s Zellhuber and Bloemfontein\u2019s Fourie from improving their lead at the front of the field the longer the opening stage went on.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re really chuffed with our stage win,\u201d explained Zellhuber. \u201cIt was pretty cold at the start so we decided to try get away from the others quite early on, get out of sight and then give ourselves a chance to recover, which worked well for us.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFortunately, with both of us coming from cold places, we\u2019re quite used to the cold and the legs felt really good throughout,\u201d added Fourie. \u201cOnce we knew we were quite safe then we were able to ease up a bit as we tried to save some energy for tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n The youngsters \u2013 former National MTB Series age group rivals yet good friends off the bike \u2013 started the day eager to stamp their authority of the event ahead of Saturday\u2019s grueling climb up the iconic Sani Pass.<\/p>\n \u201cWe tried to find as many hills as possible to train on in the build up to the Fedauto Sani Dragon but I don\u2019t anything could have prepared us for what we\u2019re in for,\u201d said Zellhuber. \u201cAlmost twenty kilometres of climbing and a 1360 metres gain in altitude is going to hurt no matter what!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll just have to see how the legs feel in the morning and then decide how hard we look to push at the start of the second stage so that we make sure we have enough for the climb up Sani Pass,\u201d chimed Fourie.<\/p>\n Bester and Anderson followed Fedauto\u2019s overnight leaders home while Mielie & Wood\u2019s Carel le Roux and Grant Underwood finished the day in third place.<\/p>\n In the women\u2019s category Drop Off Daisies\u2019 Sarah Matcher and Riallette Kruger opened a comfortable lead over Pic n Mix\u2019s Elma York and Estie Potgieter while Cleats & Cleavage\u2019s Retha and Gertjie Harmse, 50 Shades of Grey\u2019s Roger and Elizabeth Clark as well as Team Peas\u2019 Grant Cowen and Lee MacPherson top the mixed double standings ahead of Saturday second and final stage.<\/p>\n Stage one\u2019s win in the Sani Dragon\u2019s popular solo category went the way of Grant Lavers who, together with the day\u2019s second place finisher Theo Jordaan, enjoyed much of opening encounter in the company of Dream Team\u2019s Bester and Anderson.<\/p>\n Lavers ultimately finished three minutes ahead of Jordaan while Grant Langley finished in third place a further fourteen minutes back.<\/p>\n Miroda Otto enjoyed a strong day through the district of Underberg, Himeville and surrounds to be the first solo female rider welcomed home with Yvette Roberts and Annelize Gouws finishing second and third respectively.<\/p>\n<\/a>Mortimer Toyota’s Chris van der Linde (front) and Rowan Bernstein (back) from Newcastle power to fourth place during Friday’s opening stage of the 2016 Fedauto Sani Dragon in association with Mortimer Toyota. Anthony Grote\/ Gameplan Media<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a>The Dream Team’s Amanzimtoti duo of Brennan Anderson (front) and Hendrik Bester (back) put in a strong opening stage effort to finish the day in second place at the 2016 Fedauto Sani Dragon in association with Mortimer Toyota. Anthony Grote\/ Gameplan Media<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a>And they’re off! Participants of the 2016 Fedauto Sani Dragon in association with Mortimer Toyota get Friday’s opening stage’s racing underway. Anthony Grote\/ Gameplan Media<\/span><\/p>\n