![\"ccs-2-0-96874600-1398593006.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-2-0-96874600-1398593006.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nEAI Cycling\u2019s Johann Rabie celebrates the win on stage two of the nine-day Old Mutual joBerg2c in Reitz on Saturday. He is chased by Cannondale-Blend\u2019s Darren Lill (left) and EAI teammate Gawie Combrinck. Photo: Full Stop Communications<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n The EAI Cycling team claimed the 93km stage from Frankfort to Reitz in a time of 3:20:03 as the serious racing got underway in the nine-day race.<\/p>\n They were chased all the way to the line by the Cannondale-Blend combination of Darren Lill and Waylon Woolcock (3:20:04), with FedGroup-Itec\u2019s Kevin Evans and Max Knox rounding out the podium five seconds later.<\/p>\n The racing got off to a frosty start, as the riders slowly warmed up their legs on the flattish route through the Free State. All the elite teams were in the mix as a large bunch rolled through the first two waterpoints together.<\/p>\n Shortly after the second waterpoint, around 67km into the race, disaster struck for the Contego pairing of Craig Boyes and Louis-Bresler Knipe when the latter sustained a ligament injury to his knee, forcing them to drop back.<\/p>\n With 30km to go, the major contenders \u2013 including Karan Beef\u2019s Hanco Kachelhoffer and Chris Wolhuter and EuropcarSA\u2019s roadies Stuart Fitzpatrick and Calvin Beneke \u2013 pulled clear.<\/p>\n Fitzpatrick and Beneke were distanced just before the fast Red Bull Run section, which came after 82km, leaving just four teams to dice it out in the closing kilometres.<\/p>\n Lill and Woolcock drove the pace but Woolcock was unable to stay on his teammate\u2019s wheel in the final dash to the line.<\/p>\n Rabie said he was delighted with his team\u2019s performance in his first attempt at the 880km race.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re very happy with the win today and look forward to some more wins later in the tour.\u201d<\/p>\n Rabie said there was still a long way to go and that riders were conserving their energies for the latter stages.<\/p>\n \u201cThe real racing will commence a little later when the climbs start coming.\u201d<\/p>\n In the women\u2019s race, Valencia Girls\u2019 Amy McDougall and Janine King took an uncontested victory in 3:48:27.<\/p>\n They were followed home by Old Mutual\u2019s Brenda Potts and Sarah van Heerden in 3:53:35, with Reevax Ladies\u2019 Heidi Buttiens and Siegrid van Bever third in 4:23:22.<\/p>\n Former single-speed world champion McDougall said she and King were feeling strong and riding well together.<\/p>\n \u201cWe set a nice tempo and didn\u2019t push too hard. We just need to take it easy and stay level-headed.\u201d<\/p>\n In the mixed category, Biogen Toyota\u2019s Robyn de Groot and David Cooke rode hard to take the stage win in 3:25:37, just under a minute clear of Sasol Racing\u2019s Yolande de Villiers and Franso Steyn.<\/p>\n The second Sasol Racing duo of Leana de Jager and Johan Labuschagne finished third in 3:26:54.<\/p>\n De Groot said she was very happy with the result but said that she and Cooke had their work cut out for them given the strength of their competition.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s the first time David and I have ridden together, so I thought for the first day of racing it went pretty well.\u201d<\/p>\n On Sunday, more than 800 riders will take on the 122km third stage from the Reitz showgrounds to Sterkfontein Dam near the KwaZulu-Natal border.<\/p>\n