![\"ccs-62657-0-59399400-1424080019.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-62657-0-59399400-1424080019.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a><\/p>\nRed-E Blend’s Waylon Woolcock (1-2) and Darren Lill (1-1) start applying the pressure on the final climb during Stage 3 of the DUTOIT Tankwa Trek. They went on to win the stage. \/\/ Photo credit: www.oakpics.com<\/span><\/p>\n Germany\u2019s multiple Cape Epic winner, Stefan Sahm (Team Bulls), racing in the smaller Solo division, confirmed his good form with a third stage win, a dominant category win and the fastest time overall.<\/p>\n In the women\u2019s race, Ascendis Health\u2019s Robyn de Groot and Jennie Stenerhag secured a third consecutive stage victory and the overall Tankwa Trek title. In the process, they confirmed their status as genuine podium contenders at next month\u2019s Cape Epic. Catherine Williamson (Asrin Cycling) secured another stage win and the overall title in the Solo women\u2019s category.<\/p>\n Michael Posthumus and Yolandi du Toit (Garmin) grabbed their first Mixed division stage win on the final leg, but stage runners-up, Craig Boyes and Candice Neethling (Asrin Cycling) claimed the overall Mixed category crown.<\/p>\n The final stage over 61km was relatively short, which resulted in a higher intensity and average speed compared to Stages 1 and 2. There was a frantic scramble during the first five kilometres of gravel road by riders eager to reach the long first section of singletrack in a good position. It\u2019s extremely difficult to overtake on singletrack, which can lead to gaps forming and critical time being gained \u2013 or lost\u2026<\/p>\n The leading men zig-zag their way along singletrack during Stage 1 of the DUTOIT Tankwa Trek on Sunday. \/\/ Photo credit: www.oakpics.com<\/span><\/p>\n In the men\u2019s team battle, Woolcock and Lill used a climb called Heartbreak Hill, just 11km from the finish to make their move. Both strong climbers, they increased the pace up the gravel road ascent which put Reid into difficulty. Reid\u2019s teammate, Kleinhans, enjoying the form of his life currently, seemed unaware of Reid\u2019s detachment from the leading pack when they entered the next piece of singletrack as he kept setting a high pace at the front.<\/p>\n \u201cI looked back and saw that James wasn\u2019t with us any more and when Erik realised it and eased up, Darren and I seized the opportunity to push on for at least the stage win. There wasn\u2019t much distance left to make any kind of meaningful dent in the overall classification,\u201d explained a delighted Woolcock.<\/p>\n The Red-E Blend pair held onto their lead and clocked a winning time of 2 hours 14 minutes and seven seconds, just under half a minute ahead of Reid and Kleinhans, who rolled home to secure the overall Tankwa Trek title. Sandwiched in between was Sahm, with Gawie Combrinck and Johann Rabies (EAI Cycling) rounding out the top three teams on the stage.<\/p>\n \u201cThis year\u2019s Tankwa Trek felt a lot harder than last year\u2019s. The standard of racing in South Africa is really high at the moment,\u201d said Reid.<\/p>\n \u201cTo be honest, I didn\u2019t have the best legs over the weekend, but Erik gave a master class in how to be a proper teammate. Even though I\u2019m not doing the Cape Epic, this is a fantastic race for Cape Epic preparation as you are really exposed to some true mountain biking stages \u2013 routes are tough, steep and seriously technical in some parts. I\u2019m super chuffed to have won overall again,\u201d added Reid, who won the team title last year with Brendon Davids.<\/p>\n In the women\u2019s race RECM\u2019s Arianne Kleinhans and Cherise Stander managed to get into the first section of singletrack in front of De Groot and Stenerhag, but as the race moved onto a gravel road climb, the Ascendis Health pair took the lead, which they maintained until the finish. They clocked a time 2:31:05, two-and-a-half minutes ahead of Kleinhans and Stander, the latter finishing with a lacerated knee sustained in a crash.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n