![\"ccs-41808-0-05742500-1394003852.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-41808-0-05742500-1394003852.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a><\/p>\nImage credit: Full Stop Communications<\/span><\/p>\n Dougall, who rides for the MTN-Qhubeka feeder team, covered the 19km course from Berg River Dam near Franschhoek to the top of Helshoogte in a blistering time of 22 minutes 21 seconds. He finished 39 seconds clear of Cannondale-Blend\u2019s Darren Lill, who topped the leader board for most of the day.<\/p>\n Rounding out the podium was Dougall\u2019s teammate Till Drobisch, who clocked in at 23 minutes 10 seconds. Potchefstroom-based Dougall said the tour was one of his team\u2019s major goal races for the season and that the time-trial played to his strengths as a rider.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve been training hard and felt good today. It\u2019s my favourite time-trial of the year and I always enjoy it.\u201d The 21-year-old said it had been difficult to pace his ride due to the strong tailwind in the first half and the steep climb at the end. \u201cI didn\u2019t want to waste too much energy but also didn\u2019t want to lose any time in the beginning. It was important to save for the end and finish strong.\u201d<\/p>\n Dougall said his aim had been to open up a decent lead on day one to make it easier to defend his title on the three ensuing road stages. \u201cWe\u2019ve got a good team here and a lot of strong guys who climb well, so I think we\u2019ll just see how the race progresses. Hopefully we can hold it; we\u2019ve still got a few cards to play.\u201d<\/p>\n With top names like Lill, Dylan Girdlestone (Team Bonitas), Johann Rabie (Team Giant) and internationals Christoff Sauser and Frantisek Rabon (both Meerendal-Songo.info) in the mix, he said they would face stiff competition on the long road stages. \u201cThe field is super strong and a lot of these guys are older and more experienced. But we\u2019ll just take it as it comes.\u201d<\/p>\n In the women\u2019s race, Juanita Venter (Bestmed-ASG) crossed the line in 27 minutes and five seconds, a convincing 53 seconds clear of second-placed Cherise Stander (RE:CM), with Stander\u2019s teammate Ariane Kleinhans a further five seconds adrift.<\/p>\n The undulating 145km second stage rolls out from Solms-Delta Wine Estate and passes the iconic Taal Monument in Paarl before finishing in front of the Tulbagh Hotel on Wednesday.<\/p>\n