![\"ccs-62657-0-36811000-1446818881.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-62657-0-36811000-1446818881.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a>The much anticipated FNB Wines2Whales (W2W) Mountain Bike (MTB) Race started at a blistering pace on Friday, 06 November 2015. Erik Kleinhans and James Reid of Team RECM set a blistering pace, completing the 72km stage in an awe-inspiring time of 03 hours 43 seconds. Seen here (from left to right): Erik Kleinhans and James Reid in action on the day. Photo Credit: Volume Photography.<\/span><\/p>\nErik Kleinhans and James Reid of Team RECM set a blistering pace, completing the 72km stage in an awe-inspiring time of 03 hours 43 seconds. According to Kleinhans, W2W is an important race for the team. \u201cThis is our last race in the RECM colors. The route was great as always – lovely racing, punchy, entertaining and flowing. We led from the beginning, but then James had a bit of a run in and we lost about a minute and a half. We managed to make up for it though. Taking the stage is great, but an overall win will be the ideal ending. Going into Stage Two, we won\u2019t race as aggressively as today. The course suits our riding style. We\u2019ll just try to stay with the front guys.\u201d Christoph Sauser and Konny Looser of Team Investec Songo came in second, while Gawie Combrinck and Johann Rabie of Team EAI South Africa finished third.<\/p>\n
Robyn De Groot and Jennie Stenerhag of Team Ascendis Health claimed victory in the women\u2019s race with an impressive finishing time of 03 hours 35 minutes 13 seconds. \u201cToday\u2019s trails were awesome,\u201d said De Groot. \u201cThe route included minimal district road and really nice single track. This was good, proper mountain biking. We\u2019ll have a three minute lead going into Stage Two, but in mountain biking that is nothing. We\u2019ll forget about the lead and start new. The race isn\u2019t over until we reach the finish line.\u201d Candice Neethling and Ariane Kleinhans of Team RECM Ladies came in second, while Theresa Ralph and Samantha Sanders of Team Galileo Risk Valencia finished third.<\/p>\n
Team Bigla\u2019s Carl Pasio and Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio\u2019s finishing time of 03 hours 47 minutes 33 seconds secured them the top spot on the podium in the mixed team category. \u201cThe stage was a shock to the system,\u201d laughed Moolman-Pasio. \u201cAs a road cyclist I don\u2019t get to work my arms much, the portage over the wagon trail was hard. It is really nice to be able to ride with my husband. We just wanted to have fun, but our competitive instinct kicked in. It\u2019s hard not to race when it\u2019s what you\u2019re used to doing.\u201d Yolandi Du Toit and Gordon Alan of Team Garmin Navworld came in second, while Andreas Studer and Carmen Buchacher of Team Craft Cycling finished third.<\/p>\n
The prize purse for the 2015 FNB W2W MTB Race has increased by R31 500, taking the overall total to a whopping R381 500. The overall men\u2019s and women\u2019s teams will take home a prize purse of R65 000 after Stage Three. Runners up will be awarded R30 000, while the final team on the podium will win R17 500.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n