{"id":70282,"date":"2024-10-30T10:39:53","date_gmt":"2024-10-30T08:39:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/?p=70282"},"modified":"2024-11-01T19:24:45","modified_gmt":"2024-11-01T17:24:45","slug":"chardonnay-field-shines-ahead-of-fnb-wines2whales","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/chardonnay-field-shines-ahead-of-fnb-wines2whales\/","title":{"rendered":"Chardonnay Field Shines ahead of FNB Wines2Whales"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The 2024 FNB Wines2Whales gets underway on Friday, 1 November, with the elite women\u2019s showdown in the Chardonnay race. South Africa\u2019s international campaigners, Candice Lill and Tyler Jacobs, headline the field as defending champions. Yet they will face fierce competition from the Efficient Infiniti Racing, e-FORT 1, and Sani2C teams, in particular.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Riders during stage 1 at the FNB Wines 2 Whales Chardonnay event held at Lourensford Wine Estate, Somerset West on 20th October 2023 Photo by Sam Clark \/ Wines2Whales<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The punchy and singletrack-packed FNB Wines2Whales course typically delivers exciting racing from both the elite men\u2019s and women\u2019s fields. In 2024 that should prove true, once again, in the Chardonnay race. Taking place from Friday, 1 November, to Sunday, 3 November, it gets the FNB W2W festivities underway and gives the elite and age group women\u2019s teams their chance to shine. Candice Lill and Tyler Jacobs headline the competition, for SeattleCoffeeCo eFORT ALMAR, and they face competition from at least three other potential race-winning combinations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stage 1, of the traditional route, provides the best opportunities to seize time and establish an advantage. The day from Lourensford to Oak Valley takes in the Gantouw Pass compulsory portage as well as a number of other climbs which can split the field. The second stage \u2013 on the singletracks of Oak Valley, Paul Cluver and the surrounding farms \u2013 is typically a closely contested day. Then Stage 3 has produced late drama before; most notably for Lill and her 2019 teammate, Adelheid Morath. When they lost the race with a puncture just after the final water point. This year the new finale, to Benguela Cove, is an unknown. How those final 15 kilometres of singletrack will be raced remains to be seen, but because it is largely downhill it should be fast though mechanicals and punctures could play their part once again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Riders during stage 1 at the FNB Wines 2 Whales Chardonnay event held at Lourensford Wine Estate, Somerset West on 20th October 2023 Photo by Sam Clark \/ Wines2Whales<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Off the back of a career best season \u2013 which saw her claim a Marathon World Championship bronze medal, fourth at the Cross-Country World Championships, and secure a number of XCO World Series podium places \u2013 Lill is back at home ahead of the Chardonnay event. \u201cI am excited to be racing in South Africa again,\u201d she smiled. \u201cFNB W2W specifically is such a fun event and I look forward to connecting with the local MTB community again.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI haven\u2019t taken a proper break yet and my training has been more casual,\u201d Lill confessed. \u201cI just thought it\u2019s a great way to end my season and then take a full off-season in November. I am still feeling good and strong on the bike, but I wouldn\u2019t say my form is the best it\u2019s been all year. I\u2019m enjoying the more relaxed approach though.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Having raced to FNB W2W victory alongside Jacobs in 2023, Lill and the 20-year-old are back to defend their title as SeattleCoffeeCo eFORT ALMAR. \u201cI\u2019ve spent a lot of time with Tyler this year because she joined Darren and I at the MTB World Cups,\u201d Lill noted. \u201cI have really enjoyed getting to know her and hopefully sewn a bit into her life. I have watched her grow and learn in many ways this year, not just performance wise, but in everything else it takes to be a professional athlete. I\u2019ve enjoyed guiding her gently and, in many ways, she has challenged me as well. It\u2019s going to be good fun to race with her!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lill and Jacobs\u2019 fiercest competition could well come from the Efficient Infiniti Racing team, though Vera Looser has had to call upon a new partner ten days out from the race. Having originally been slated to race with South African Gravel and Marathon Champion, Danielle Strydom, the 2022 FNB W2W winner will now ride alongside Sarah Hill. \u201cI picked something up at Cape Pioneer, had to take time off the bike and then haven\u2019t been able to train properly,\u201d Strydom said. \u201cI respect Vera [Looser] too much to start below the level I need to be at. So, I made the decision to rather withdraw from the race.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Riders during stage 3 at the FNB Wines 2 Whales Chardonnay event held from Oak Valley to Lourensford Wine Estate, Somerset West on 22nd October 2023 Photo by Sam Clark \/ Wines2Whales<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Looser\u2019s stand in partner, Hill, is on fine form herself and starts fresh off victory in a 100 Mile gravel race. \u201cI said, to camera, after the race, last Saturday, that it was my last of the season,\u201d she laughed. \u201cBut then on Sunday I woke up to a call from Vera asking if I could race with her. I\u2019ve had a good ramp up this year, and I think that we will be competitive. We\u2019re certainly going to race and to see what we can do! I\u2019ve raced with Vera before and she\u2019s not afraid to push me, and her other partners, to give their absolute all. She\u2019s an incredible teammate and I can\u2019t wait to race alongside her again. I\u2019d also like to say a big thank you to the Efficient Infiniti Racing team. To guest ride for them is very special and having raced for them back in 2019 it feels like a bit of a homecoming, especially with Theresa Ralph there as soigneur.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Chardonnay race means everything to women\u2019s racing in South Africa!\u201d Hill praised. \u201cIt\u2019s one of the only UCI events which focuses on women and it\u2019s a huge celebration of women\u2019s mountain biking both her in South Africa and increasingly, internationally. The exposure for the brands who support women\u2019s mountain biking is rewarded at FNB W2W, because the media attention is on the women\u2019s race. It\u2019s not just the winners, or the lead group who get featured on TV or in photos, but all the way through the field the hard work every woman who races is recognised and acknowledged. I think the Chardonnay race helps grow female participation in the industry in general, not just the elite women\u2019s racing field.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m also looking forward to the FNB Rider Lounge and the vibe of FNB W2W,\u201d Hill concluded. \u201cIt\u2019s always great fun spending time there, catching up with friends, laughing and giggling about the day on the trails. Though it is a pity that there\u2019s no Rugby World Cup on this year to really ramp up the gees\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another combination to watch is Bianca Haw and Tiffany Keep. Haw has returned to competitive racing, to great success, in 2024; while Keep has enjoyed her best season on the road. \u201cThis season, on road, has been the year of learning and growth for me,\u201d Keep reflected. \u201cI achieved a childhood dream of going to the Olympics and I\u2019m really soaked up the experience. I raced at the highest level I\u2019ve ever competed at before, and that came with its own challenges. I hope to build on this year into 2025 and am looking forward to some lekker racing in South Africa to end of the year. While I have just restarted training this week after my offseason, doing a crash-course in riding my mountain bike again, racing with Bianca [Haw] will for sure be fun and full of laughs! We will race hard and are both looking forward to it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBianca and I both raced XCO when we were younger and it\u2019s awesome to see her back at the races,\u201d Keep enthused. \u201cShe is absolutely flying at the moment and I\u2019m excited for the challenge and seeing how well we work together. Maybe there will be more races to come, together, in the future!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button>
Candice Lill and Tyler Jacobs followed by Cheris Willeit and Samantha Saunders during stage 3 at the FNB Wines 2 Whales Chardonnay event held from Oak Valley Estate to Lourensford Estate, Somerset West on the 22nd October 2023 Photo by Dom Barnardt \/ Wines2Whales<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Sani2C team will have to navigate FNB W2W together first however, though with their combined fire power Haw and Keep could challenge Lill and Jacobs, as well as Looser and Hill. The fourth of the big favourites are the e-FORT 1 team of Margot Moschetti and Costanza Fasolis. The French\/Italian pair finished eighth together, at the Cape Epic in March, but the shorter stages of the Chardonnay should suit their strengths better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Along with the leading contenders the elite women\u2019s race, at FNB W2W, is likely to feature battles throughout the field. Fortress Real Estate Investments\u2019 Ila Stow and Katie Lennard, will likely be in a fierce contest with Elrika Harmzen-Pretorius and Felicitas Geiger, of e-FORT 2, as well as Janice Venter and Hayley Smith, of BELL EPT, for top five places.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bike Hub SHEovita and Paceline Racing 1 are also closely matched, though Kylie Hanekom carries a self-inflicted hand injury into the race against her erstwhile teammate Tarryn Povey. Rebecca van Huyssteen lines up alongside Hanekom, while Robyn Williams partners Povey for Paceline. The women\u2019s road team are also represented by Almari de Milander and Catherine Pellow-Jarman. They will likely be tussling with Pretty Pedal and DriveTrain Academy teams on the trails. Bragging rights between the coaches could be low-key important for Kate Slegrova and Nicola Walker as they take on Mikaela Hagemann and Rouxda Grobler.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To follow the action, as it unfolds, watch the race coverage on social media. Regular updates will be posted to the @wines_2_whales<\/a> Instagram and Wines2Whales<\/a> Facebook stories. Post-stage highlight videos will be uploaded to the Epic Series<\/a> YouTube channel, which also features advice on how to prepare logistically. Should would-be riders need any packing advice they are encouraged to watch Craig Kolesky\u2019s \u201c2024 Official Packing Video\u201d here<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button>
Riders during stage 3 at the FNB Wines 2 Whales Chardonnay event held from Oak Valley to Lourensford Wine Estate, Somerset West on 22nd October 2023 Photo by Sam Clark \/ Wines2Whales<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Startlist<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

SeattleCoffeeCo eFORT ALMAR 
1-1 Candice Lill (RSA) 1-2 Tyler Jacobs (RSA)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Efficient Infiniti Racing
2-1 Vera Looser * (NAM) 2-2 Sarah Hill (RSA)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

e-FORT 
3-1 Margot Moschetti (FRA) 3-2 Costanza Fasolis (ITA)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fortress Real Estate Investments 
4-1 Ila Stow (RSA) 4-2 Katie Lennard (RSA)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bike Hub SHEovita 
5-1 Kylie Hanekom (RSA) 5-2 Rebecca van Huyssteen (RSA)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

BELL EPT 
6-1 Janice Venter (RSA) 6-2 Hayley Smith (RSA)
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Paceline Racing 1 
7-1 Robyn Williams (RSA) 7-2 Tarryn Povey (RSA)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sani2C 
8-1 Tiffany Keep (RSA) 8-2 Bianca Haw (RSA)
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

e-FORT 2
9-1 Elrika Harmzen-Pretorius (RSA) 9-2 Felicitas Geiger (GER)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Paceline 
10-1 Almari de Milander (RSA) 10-2 Catherine Pellow-Jarman (RSA)
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pretty Pedal 
11-1 Kate Slegrova (CZE) 11-2 Nicola Walker (RSA)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DriveTrain Academy 
12-1 Mikaela Hagemann (RSA) 12-2 Rouxda Grobler (RSA)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The 2024 FNB Wines2Whales gets underway on Friday, 1 November, with the elite women\u2019s showdown in the Chardonnay race. South Africa\u2019s international campaigners, Candice Lill and Tyler Jacobs, headline the field as defending champions. Yet they will face fierce competition from the Efficient Infiniti Racing, e-FORT 1, and Sani2C teams, in particular. The punchy and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":70283,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[528,15],"featured_location":[],"class_list":["post-70282","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-events","tag-epic-series","tag-wines2whales"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/70282","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=70282"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/70282\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":70288,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/70282\/revisions\/70288"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/70283"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=70282"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=70282"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=70282"},{"taxonomy":"featured_location","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/featured_location?post=70282"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}