Johann Rabie (front) and HB Kruger of Telkom chase the leaders on stage eight of the 2016 Old Mutual joBerg2c. Photo: Full Stop Communications<\/span><\/p>\nAndrew Hill and Tyronne White of Thule-Pyga-TIB were again best of the rest in 3:58:11 (30:39:24).<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is always a race to enter the single-track to the Umkomaas descent in front, but we opted to play it safe today,\u201d said Bell, who is from Nelspruit.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe didn\u2019t want to take too many chances on the downhill and was happy for Telkom to lead the way.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen we reached the valley, it was only them and us and they made the pace until the first waterpoint.\u201d<\/p>\n
On the steady climb out of the valley, Combrinck went to the front in an effort to put them under pressure and they saw that Kruger was struggling a bit.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter that, on the single-track climb through the Bridges for Africa section, we upped the tempo and got a gap.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd then on Push of a Climb we rode tempo to make up some more time \u2013 and simply played it safe from there.\u201d<\/p>\n
The 32-year-old said everyone seemed a bit sick due to the sustained effort and dust.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think HB, especially, is struggling with his chest. I think we\u2019re now all just nursing ourselves to tomorrow\u2019s finish.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said that if Telkom was still capable of winning, the Umkomaas stage was probably their last chance to take time back.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe last day is fast and we\u2019ll be focusing on staying safe and on course.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll have an eye on them, of course, but we don\u2019t need to try and ride away. It is now all about the overall victory.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"ccs-2-0-37885800-1461945940.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-2-0-37885800-1461945940.jpg\")
<\/a>Candice Neethling of Dorma-USN-Purefit in full flight on stage eight of the 2016 Old Mutual joBerg2c. Photo: Full Stop Communications<\/span><\/p>\nCapetonians Darren Lill and Candice Neethling, of Dorma-USN-Purefit, won their fourth stage in the Lanham-Love Attorneys mixed category to become the new overall leaders.<\/p>\n
They completed the stage to Jolivet farm in 4:09:04 (32:11:28) to displace long-time leaders Johan Labuschagne and Catherine Williamson.<\/p>\n
The riders from The Bicycle Company-Bestmed had another below-par day when they finished fourth in 4:21:27 (32:16:09) due to mechanical and physical issues.<\/p>\n
Grant Usher and Amy McDougall of Valencia-Lanham-Love were second in 4:13:12 (32:23:20), with Topeak-Ergon\u2019s international team of Sonya Looney and Yuki Ikeda third in 4:15:30 (33:16:09).<\/p>\n
Lill, 33, said they knew it was important to be in front going down the Umkomaas and they fought hard to get in position.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were just off the back of the leading men, so we got to have a free run down there. I let Candice go in front so that she could ride her own speed.<\/p>\n
\u201cOnce we go to the bottom, we kept it very steady as it is a long day. I knew I had to look after Candice because of all the climbing on the other side.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
![\"ccs-2-0-67561600-1461945929.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-2-0-67561600-1461945929.jpg\")
<\/a>Gawie Combrinck (front) and Nico Bell of NAD Pro lead the eighth stage of the 2016 Old Mutual joBerg2c. Photo: Full Stop Communications<\/span><\/p>\n