{"id":21122,"date":"2014-05-18T08:25:00","date_gmt":"2014-05-18T07:25:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/2014\/05\/18\/knox-and-evans-sew-up-10th-sani2c-r1414\/"},"modified":"2023-02-08T12:03:07","modified_gmt":"2023-02-08T12:03:07","slug":"knox-and-evans-sew-up-10th-sani2c-r1414","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/knox-and-evans-sew-up-10th-sani2c-r1414\/","title":{"rendered":"Knox and Evans sew up 10th sani2c"},"content":{"rendered":"

Multiple former winners Kevin Evans and Max Knox combined their firepower to win the 10th<\/sup> Nedbank sani2c mountain bike race that culminated on the KwaZulu-Natal south coast on Saturday.<\/p>\n

\"ccs-2-0-45348800-1400408969.jpg\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Kevin Evans (left) and Max Knox of FedGroup-Itec celebrate their sixth and third win respectively in the 10th<\/sup> edition of the Nedbank sani2c mountain bike race, which finished in Scottburgh, KwaZulu-Natal, on Saturday. Photo: Full Stop Communications<\/span><\/p>\n

After three days of racing, the FedGroup-Itec pair finished fifth on the 85km final stage from Highflats to Scottburgh to take overall victory in an aggregate time of 8:57:45.<\/p>\n

Old Mutual joBerg2c winners Gawie Combrinck and Johann Rabie, of EAI South Africa, came home fourth on the day to secure the overall runner-up spot in 9:01:08.<\/p>\n

Kargo Pro\u2019s young cross-country specialists Rourke Croeser and Travis Walker impressed in a rare stage racing appearance to finish on the bottom step of the podium in 9:05:21.<\/p>\n

It was Evans\u2019s sixth triumph in the 265km stage race \u2013 the largest of its kind in the world – and Knox\u2019s third.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo that\u2019s nine wins from 10 events, which is pretty special,\u201d said Evans.<\/p>\n

He and Knox won the first two stages to take a comfortable three-and-a-half-minute lead into the final day.<\/p>\n

\u201cToday wasn\u2019t about the stage win, we just wanted to sew up the victory for FedGroup-Itec,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s been a while coming but the form is there and it\u2019s the start of good things.\u201d<\/p>\n

Line honours on the day belonged to cross-country racers Arno Du Toit and Brendon Davids of Trek Racing, who outsprinted Croeser and Walker by one second to take the win in 2:35:05.<\/p>\n

The sprint for third went to Red-E\/TIB\u2019s Darren Lill and Andrew Hill in 2:38:25, but not before a spectacular finish line crash as Lill and Rabie locked wheels.<\/p>\n

The day\u2019s results were just reward for the young Kargo Pro and Trek Racing teams, who also led the charge on Friday\u2019s 100km queen stage before blowing on the climb out of the Umkomaas River Valley.<\/p>\n

\u201cToday I went early and fortunately Kargo Pro chased and caught up with us,\u201d said stage winner Davids.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere was a bit of cat and mouse throughout the stage but we timed our last attack well and hit the bridge together.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was tough racing but hats off to Rourke and Travis. We were trying to help them get in the top three overall, which we did.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"ccs-2-0-13237200-1400409051.jpg\"<\/a><\/p>\n

RECM\u2019s Ariane Kleinhans (left) took her fourth consecutive victory in the mixed category at the three-day Nedbank sani2c alongside new partner Lourens Luus. The 10th<\/sup> edition of the world\u2019s largest mountain bike stage race finished in Scottburgh, KwaZulu-Natal, on Saturday. Photo: Full Stop Communications<\/span><\/p>\n

In the mixed category, RECM\u2019s Ariane Kleinhans sealed her fourth straight victory alongside new partner Lourens Luus. They won the final stage in 2:48:48 for aggregate time of 9:49:56.<\/p>\n

Kleinhans, whose husband Erik crashed out of the men\u2019s race on day two with a torn shoulder joint, said she was very pleased with how smoothly her team\u2019s race had played out.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re very pleased with how it went today. It can always go the other way, as Erik showed yesterday.<\/p>\n

\u201cLourens was really strong, sitting at the front all day. I know I can trust his wheel and he knows how to ride technical stuff.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sasol Racing\u2019s Yolande de Villiers and Johan Labuschagne followed them home in 2:55:35 to take second overall in 10:25:28.<\/p>\n

Igna de Villiers and Dalene van der Leek of LGE\/Midas\/Bells Cycling were a distant third on the final day in 3:01:09 to cement the same position on GC in 10:45:18.<\/p>\n

\"ccs-2-0-67258100-1400409047.jpg\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Swedish marathon champion Jennie Stenerhag (left) and her South African counterpart Robyn de Groot celebrate their win in the women\u2019s race at the e Nedbank sani2c on Saturday. The 10th<\/sup> edition of the world\u2019s largest mountain bike stage race finished in Scottburgh, KwaZulu-Natal, on Saturday. Photo: Full Stop Communications<\/span><\/p>\n

South African marathon champion Robyn de Groot and Sweden\u2019s Jennie Stenerhag, racing for Biogen Toyota-Cape Brewing Company, notched up their third stage win in 3:03:39 for their maiden victory in the women\u2019s event in 10:36:26.<\/p>\n

Yolande Speedy and Yolandi Du Toit of Garmin-ASG were second on the day in 3:14:43 and runners-up overall in 11:29:04.<\/p>\n

The Baeti duo of Natalie Bergstrom and Tammy Visagie rounded out the stage and overall podium in 3:21:31 and 11:57:40.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was our first race together and it went really well,\u201d said De Groot. \u201cWe both had good and bad days but that\u2019s what teamwork\u2019s all about.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was an awesome race and I\u2019d love to come back year after year,\u201d added Stenerhag.<\/p>\n

Someone who will not be returning is FedGroup-Itec\u2019s Neil MacDonald, who announced his retirement from professional mountain biking on Friday evening.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve always liked this event and I\u2019ve had some good results here. Some things have come up and I just decided that now was the decisive moment to bow out.\u201d<\/p>\n

Former roadie MacDonald, 37, said he would continue to be involved in various business ventures related to cycling.<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought about it long and hard and I have quite a lot to offer, especially to the younger generation. Cycling\u2019s given me so much over the years, it\u2019s only right to give something back.\u201d<\/p>\n

\nVisit www.sani2c.co.za<\/a> for more information. Alternatively, follow @sani2c_scoop or find the race on Facebook.<\/p>\n

RESULTS<\/strong><\/p>\n

Stage 3<\/strong><\/p>\n

Men:<\/p>\n

1. Arno du Toit & Brendon Davids (Trek Racing) 2:35:05<\/p>\n

2. Rourke Croeser & Travis Walker (Kargo Pro) 2:35:06<\/p>\n

3. Andrew Hill & Darren Lill (Red-E\/TIB) 2:38:25<\/p>\n

Women:<\/p>\n

1. Jennie Stenerhag & Robyn de Groot (Biogen Toyota-Cape Brewing) 3:03:39<\/p>\n

2. Yolande Speedy & Yolandi du Toit (Garmin-ASG) 3:14:43<\/p>\n

3. Natalie Bergstrom & Tammy Visagie (Baeti) 3:21:31<\/p>\n

Mixed:<\/p>\n

1. Ariane Kleinhans & Lourens Luus (RECM) 2:48:48<\/p>\n

2. Yolande de Villiers & Johan Labuschagne (Sasol Racing) 2:55:35<\/p>\n

3. Igna de Villiers & Dalene van der Leek (Lge\/Midas\/Bells Racing) 3:01:09<\/p>\n

Overall<\/strong><\/p>\n

Men:<\/p>\n

1. Kevin Evans & Max Knox (FedGroup-Itec) 8:57:45<\/p>\n

2. Gawie Combrinck & Johann Rabie (EAI South Africa) 9:01:08<\/p>\n

3. Rourke Croeser & Travis Walker (Kargo Pro) 9:05:21; 4. Andrew Hill & Darren Lill (Red-E\/TIB) 9:05:48; 5. Arno du Toit & Brendon Davids (Trek Racing) 9:15:50<\/p>\n

Women:<\/p>\n

1. Jennie Stenerhag & Robyn de Groot (Biogen Toyota-Cape Brewing) 10:36:26<\/p>\n

2. Yolande Speedy & Yolandi du Toit (Garmin-ASG) 11:29:04<\/p>\n

3. Natalie Bergstrom & Tammy Visagie (Baeti) 11:57:40<\/p>\n

Mixed:<\/p>\n

1. Ariane Kleinhans & Lourens Luus (RECM) 9:49:56<\/p>\n

2. Yolande de Villiers & Johan Labuschagne (Sasol Racing) 10:25:28<\/p>\n

3. Igna de Villiers & Dalene van der Leek (Lge\/Midas\/Bells Racing) 10:45:18\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Multiple former winners Kevin Evans and Max Knox combined their firepower to win the 10th Nedbank sani2c mountain bike race that culminated on the KwaZulu-Natal south coast on Saturday. Kevin Evans (left) and Max Knox of FedGroup-Itec celebrate their sixth and third win respectively in the 10th edition of the Nedbank sani2c mountain bike race, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":51842,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[4018,53],"featured_location":[],"class_list":["post-21122","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-events","tag-nedbank-sani2c","tag-sani2c"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21122","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21122"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21122\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/51842"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21122"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21122"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21122"},{"taxonomy":"featured_location","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/featured_location?post=21122"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}