![\"ccs-62657-0-94704000-1461508648.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-62657-0-94704000-1461508648.jpg\")
<\/a>NAD Pro\u2019s Nico Bell (left) and Gawie Combrinck (second from right) win the third stage of the 2016 Old Mutual joBerg2c between Reitz and Sterkfontein Dam today. Photo: Full Stop Communications<\/span><\/p>\nThe NAD Pro mountain bike team outsprinted the previous day\u2019s winners Johann Rabie and HB Kruger to record a time of 4:31:20 after 122km of racing from the Free State town of Reitz.<\/p>\n
The Telkom pair finished one second behind with Thule-Pyga-TIB\u2019s Andrew Hill and Tyronne White taking third in 4:33:39.<\/p>\n
Rabie and Kruger\u2019s combined time of 12:01:53 saw them hold on to the overall lead by a single second over Combrinck and Bell, with Hill and White third in 12:11:22.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a headwind from the gun and no one was really eager to go hard early on,\u201d said Combrinck, who has won the event twice.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe did however go a little bit harder through the first single-track to see if we could reduce the size of the bunch slightly.<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom there, the main contenders rolled together all the way to the third waterpoint.\u201d<\/p>\n
Combrinck and Bell, who are both from Nelspruit, were the first to show any real aggression when they put in a strong attack on the single-track section leading up to Mount Paul.<\/p>\n \u201cJust the Telkom guys were able to match us,\u201d said Combrinck.<\/p>\n \u201cWe pushed hard over the final 20km but were unable to get rid of them before the finish, but were nevertheless happy to take out the sprint.\u201d<\/p>\n The 30-year-old said they knew the finish, but felt the last few kilometres on the new track at the water\u2019s edge turned out much harder than the small climb and single-track descent of previous years.<\/p>\n \u201cOur strategy was basically to be in front on that stretch and to go first into the last corner.\u201d<\/p>\n Bell, 32, said they would study day four\u2019s profile tonight to see whether they could identify sections where they could put Rabie and Kruger under pressure.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are both good technical riders so tomorrow\u2019s single-track descents obviously suit us. If they make a mistake it will hopefully give us an opportunity to get away.\u201d<\/p>\n Britain\u2019s Catherine Williamson and her South African teammate Johan Labuschagne, who ride in the colours of The Bicycle Company-Bestmed, won the mixed category in 4:44:00 to move into the overall lead on 12:28:57.<\/p>\n Valencia-Lanham-Love\u2019s Grant Usher and Amy McDougall finished second in 4:51:07 to drop down to second in the general classification on 12:35:56.<\/p>\n<\/a>NAD Pro\u2019s Nico Bell (left) and Gawie Combrinck won the third stage of the 2016 Old Mutual joBerg2c between Reitz and Sterkfontein Dam today. Photo: Full Stop Communications<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a>The Bicycle Company-Bestmed\u2019s Johan Labuschagne (left) and Catherine Williamson won stage three of the 2016 Old Mutual joBerg2c between Reitz and Sterkfontein Dam today. Photo: Full Stop Communications<\/span><\/p>\n