Former champs eye more sani2c success

Defending champion Max Knox (pictured) will team up with two-time former champion Mannie Heymans for the three-day sani2c, presented by BoE Private Clients, which starts on Thursday in Underberg, KwaZulu-Natal. Photo: Zoon Cronje

Defending champion Max Knox will team up with two-time former winner Mannie Heymans as they take on the three-day sani2c, presented by BoE Private Clients, which starts at Underberg in KwaZulu-Natal on Thursday.

Knox – who heads the MTN National Mountain Bike Marathon Series after five of the eight rounds – and his Namibian partner will be up against joBerg2c winners and pre-race favourites Kevin Evans and David George of Nedbank 360Life.

Both teams are on good form following the MTN series race at Mabalingwe on Saturday, which saw Knox finish runner-up to George with Evans placing fourth.

“Obviously they’ve got good form at the moment and, barring a disaster, will be the outright favourites,” said Knox, who will be riding in the colours of Ormin-Craft.

The 25-year-old was gifted a win alongside Adrien Niyonshuti last year when the 360Life riders overshot a turn on the final day.

“We won last year but that was last year. Everyone starts afresh on equal footing so anything can happen.”

Last year’s runners-up Neil MacDonald and Waylon Woolcock of RE:CM – who  won two stages of the recent Old Mutual joBerg2c en route to finishing second overall – won’t be on the starting line following a heavy crash at Mabalingwe by the former, which left him with a broken collarbone and fractured wrist.

Those who count themselves among the favourites will however face another set of challengers in the form of former South African cross-country champion Brandon Stewart, who exchanges regular partner Jacques Rossouw for last year’s national road champion Darren Lill. The duo will be pairing up as FedGroup-Itec Connect-Bonitas.

Knox said he and 40-year-old former African champion Heymans, who quit professional cycling a year ago, would still be riding competitively but were realistically aiming for a top-five finish.

As former winners, the Sabie resident said he and his Windhoek-based partner looked forward to sharing their accumulated knowledge with the social riders at the event.

“We’re going to have a good time with everyone and give back to the event in any way that we can.” 

Knox said he was very happy to be riding with the former Olympian. “He’s got a lot more years of experience and a better understanding of racing than I do.”

He said the consistency of his own performances in the countrywide MTN series thus far boded well ahead of the race.

“In the last three MTN races, I’ve been second twice and won once, so three podiums out of the last three starts is pretty cool for me.” 

In the women’s race, two-time Old Mutual joBerg2c winners Ischen Stopforth and Catherine Williamson of bizhub-FCF will team up for their first crack at the title.

They will face stiff competition from Theresa Ralph and Karien van Jaarsveld who will be teaming up for Dischem Britehouse MTN. “It’s going to be quite a race!” said Stopforth.

Contego 28E’s reigning champions Erik and Ariane Kleinhans will be aiming for a trifecta of wins in the mixed category of major stage races following runaway victories at the Absa Cape Epic and Old Mutual joBerg2c.

George Triumphs at tough Mabalingwe Ultra-Marathon

The television camera crew captures the battle bewtween David George (front) and Max Knox during the latter part of the race.

In case there was still any doubt, former professional road cyclist, David George, added more confirmation to his complete conversion to dirt when he beat a strong field of seasoned mountain bike racers to win Round 5 of the MTN National Ultra-marathon Series at Mabalingwe in South Africa’s Limpopo Province on Saturday.

The 36-year-old George, racing for Nedbank 360Life, clocked a winning time of 04 hours and 23 minutes for the 110km course that incorporated 1 950 metres of vertical ascent and which was described by many exhausted competitors afterwards as one of the toughest mountain bike race routes in the country.

Second place went to Max Knox (Specialized), who retains his lead in the series. Another former road cycling pro, Gawie Combrinck (Westvaal-Columbia) claimed third place with Kevin Evans (Nedbank 360Life) and Nico Bell (Westvaal-Columbia) rounding out the first five places respectively.

“I’m pretty chuffed with being able to ride that rough course as well as I did,” smiled George. “There were some very rocky, technical sections which made it as tough as any Cape Epic stage. Definitely a course for dual-suspension bikes!”

George pushed the pace on the early climbs, forcing a split, which saw five riders in the lead by the halfway point – Evans, George, Combrinck, Knox and Neil MacDonald (Team RE:CM). Combrinck and Evans helped with the pace-setting while Knox sat on. A crash took MacDonald out of contention, with the resultant broken collarbone and wrist, taking him out of the race completely.

Evans struggled to find his rhythm and also crashed a couple of times, leaving Knox, George and Combrinck as the three remaining contenders in the latter part of the race. Combrinck eventually began to falter and yo-yoed on and off the leaders, eventually losing contact completely after puncturing.

The dense bushveld vegetation of the Limpopo Province created a new backdrop for the MTN National Series. Here Gawie Combrinck leads Max Knox and David George.

In an effort to dispatch Knox, George upped his pace after the final feed zone, forcing Knox to chase and rejoin him. George then crashed on one of the final rocky singletrack descents giving Knox the lead until a puncture interrupted his victory charge, leaving George to race past him and secure the victory.

George was the fifth different winner in the 2012 MTN Series, which is shaping up to be one of the most competitive in the eight year history of the national series. With, with a total of over 16 000 participants, it is the largest mountain bike series in the world.

“Gawie (Combrinck) did a lot of the work today. It’s a pity he punctured. He’s really coming good as a mountain bike racer. My form is good after joBerg2c. Having good form helps when things get tough. I worked hard for the win though. Max (Knox) chose not do any work and I had a few choice words with him at one point, but it made no difference. The win was good enough reward for me in the end,” said George.

Theresa Ralph (Biogen Britehouse) claimed the honours in the women’s 75km marathon. Ariane Kleinhans (Contego 28E) and Karien van Jaarsveld (MTN Qhubeka) finished second and third respectively.

George and Evans will tackle the Sani2c three-day stage race in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal province on Thursday. They have a score to try and settle after having missed a turn on the final stage in 2011. That cost them stage win and overall victory. With a total of almost 4000 participants, Sani2c is the world’s most popular mountain bike stage race.

Sani2c has riders covered

Nedbank 360Life brand ambassadors Kevin Evans (left) and David George at this month’s joBerg2c. Photo: Coetzee Gouws/Full Stop Communications

Every mountain biker who takes on the sani2c, presented by BoE Private Clients, this week will receive R1-million worth of free life and physical impairment cover under a unique sponsorship from Nedgroup Life.

In a first for the long-term insurance arm of Nedbank, Nedgroup Life will provide comprehensive 360Life policies for the 4 000 plus riders who traverse the three-day route from Underberg to Scottburgh in KwaZulu-Natal.

The participants will compete in three separate events – the Trail, Adventure and Race – which cover the same 250km course, with staggered starts of one day between each.

According to Nedgroup Life managing director Lance Blumeris, the sponsorship is a win-win situation for all parties. “It’s a great value-add to the riders and a great way to create awareness of what we have to offer.”

Blumeris said that while a 360Life policy was usually fully underwritten, participants would enjoy the death and disability cover free of underwriting. It will be valid from May 1 to June 30.

“At any time before the two months are up, riders have the option to convert it to a standalone policy, without any underwriting whatsoever.”

He said the event was the ideal match in terms of the risk profile of its participants as prospective clients.

“Because sani2c is an endurance event, you are required to be fit, with your lifestyle leading up to the race being well balanced. It is very likely to be maintained after you finish,” said Blumeris.

“360Life fits all segments of the market, but it particularly suits the active healthy segments. Mountain biking has a great message that reflects our underlying value proposition.”

Blumeris said the company had made its first foray into mountain biking with its sponsorship of professional outfit Nedbank Team 360Life, which features six-time sani2c champion Kevin Evans and his partner David George, with whom he won this year’s Old Mutual joBerg2c.

“They are our health and wellness ambassadors and their profile is consistent with the way in which we like to engage our market.”

He said, as this year’s Absa Cape Epic African jersey winners, their steadily growing public image provided a great opportunity to leverage their presence in the mountain biking marketplace.

“When BoE Private Clients, a sister company within Nedbank, took over the title sponsorship for the sani2c all the pieces appeared to fall into place.”

Race director Glen Haw said that there were many synergies between sani2c and 360Life and that there were exciting times ahead for mountain biking and its sponsors.

“When Nedgroup Life approached sani2c with this idea it was a no brainer. We are always looking to add value for our riders and this has been a perfect example of how it is achieved for the benefit of all.

“When all parties involved are happy, the project becomes sustainable. We look forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship with Nedgroup Life.”

Blumeris said the company’s approach rewarded clients who adopted a long-term holistic approach to wellness over the course of their life.

“But, rest assured, if your health happens to deteriorate, you will continue to be covered. This is one of the primary reasons for taking the cover in the first place.”

The Trail starts on May 15, followed by the Adventure and then the Race, which finishes on May 20.

Sani2c invests in safer roads

The sani2c mountain bike race. Photo: Coetzee Gouws

Pedestrians and cyclists in a rural KwaZulu-Natal community will now be a lot safer as thousands of bicycles leave more than just tracks alongside the regional road.

In a demonstration of what organiser Glen Haw calls “the power of mountain biking”, the sani2c, presented by BoE Private Clients, is building a lasting legacy in the form of a 3.5km dual-purpose cycling lane and pedestrian sidewalk along the R612 between Hlutankungu and Jolivet in the Highflats region.

The three-day race, which takes place next week, and the nine-day Old Mutual joBerg2c, which finished on May 5, both traverse this high-traffic stretch of road on the penultimate day of each event.

With four pedestrians, including two children, killed last year alone, the shoulder of the road is particularly treacherous during the dense mists that often shroud the area.

The development project is the result of a unique partnership between sani2c, its route sponsor Caterpillar and the provincial department of transport and is driven by concerned local contractor Charlie Shewan.

“Before we started this project, there were tree branches overhanging the yellow line, so in some places the kids were actually walking in the roadway. You can’t believe how close they came to the tyres of the trucks going by.”

Shewan, who owns Cotts Earthmovers, said the first phase of earthworks and bulkworks had already been completed after getting the go-ahead from authorities just before Easter.

“We’ve moved about six or seven thousand cubic metres of earth to make room for a pathway.”

Pictured are riders in this month’s joBerg2c enjoying the first phase of the sidewalk. Photo: Coetzee Gouws

He said the next phase would involve creating a 150mm high kerb and channel with a two-metre wide in-situ concrete track and guardrail.

“The Department of Transport has promised to supply the materials. We want to try and have it ready by the next sani2c. The entire project is three years.”

Shewan, who lives in the nearby Ixopo area, said the private sector-driven project would also create temporary jobs by employing local labour.

He said the response from the community had been overwhelmingly positive.

“They are so grateful. The sidewalk makes the road safe for the cyclists and for the community – it’s a huge win-win and the locals are very happy about it.”

According to Haw, this project exemplified the spirit of the sani2c, which has a strong community-development focus at the heart of its business model.

“That’s how we roll,” he said. “We get an awesome route and a good reputation with the community – everybody benefits.”

Haw said the project had been a long time coming after more than a year of negotiating with various parties. “I was beginning to lose hope that this project would become a reality.

“Were it not for Charlie’s persistence and help with gaining permission, I think I would have run out of energy. It is for this reason that we have named it Charlie’s Catwalk.”

The sani2c is the world’s biggest fully serviced mountain bike race and will see three groups of 1 300 riders each tackle a testing route from Underberg to Scottburgh.

The annual mountain bike challenge is divided into a Trail (May 15 to 17), Adventure (May 16 to 18) and Race (May 17 to 19) and the riders will use the newly graded route as they head towards the finish line at Jolivet Farm on stage two.

36One MTB challenge set to break endurance barriers

Participants in the 36ONE MTB Challenge will experience some of the Western Cape's finest scenery. Photo:Press Release

For the past two decades, 24-hour racing has captured the committed mountain biker’s imagination because it’s a form of racing that asks for – and delivers – more. More energy, more concentration, more time on the bike, more fun, more reward. But why stop at 24 hours? Introducing the 36ONE MTB Challenge, a 361km race with a 36.1-hour time limit.

Not surprisingly, the 36ONE MTB Challenge is a South African mountain bike event. Endurance sports are a way of life in South Africa where vast, varying countryside and good year-round weather make it possible to organise long-duration events. South Africa hosts some of the world’s most famous endurance sports events, including the 89km Comrades Marathon, the 120km Dusi Canoe Marathon, the 120km Triple Challenge offroad triathlon and the 2300km Freedom Challenge mountain bike race across South Africa. Hence the inherent intrigue with sporting events that test endurance.

The inaugural 36ONE MTB Challenge will feed this intrigue, offering yet another world-class ultra-endurance test. 36ONE Asset Management is a Johannesburg based boutique asset management firm, which has thrown its support behind the new event. It takes place from 4-6 May 2012 in South Africa’s Western Cape province and is being touted as the ultimate mountain bike endurance test, appropriate since it’s the longest single-leg mountain bike race in South Africa and possibly the world.

The organisers of the 36ONE MTB Challenge have ensured the route offers a good mix of gravel roads. Photo:Press Release

The format of the event sees a mass start at 21h00 from Kleinplaas Holiday Resort in Oudtshoorn on Friday 4 May with the finish at the same venue on Sunday 6 May. There’s a cut-off time limit of 36.1 hours (09h06 on the Sunday). Front and rear lights are compulsory equipment, as riders will ride through approximately 21 hours of darkness during the event.

There are various categories in which riders can enter: The extreme set can tackle the event solo, while teams of two, three or four can also enter for the full distance, which has a total vertical ascent of 4 293 metres.

Because the full distance is too far for most, there’s a relay option, which breaks the 361km into four legs. Teams of two or four may enter the relay, which requires that riders must complete legs 1 and 3 or legs 2 and 4. Relay team riders may not ride two legs consecutively. There’s also provision for a tandem and a singlespeed category in the relay section.

“There are many similarities between cycling and investing. Both require focus, dedication, passion, preparation and hard work in order to achieve success,” said Steven Liptz, co-founder of 36ONE Asset Management.

“Following our successful sponsorship of the 36ONE-SONGO-SPECIALIZED team of Burry Stander and Christoph Sauser, who have won the past two editions of the gruelling ABSA Cape Epic, we wanted to expand our support of mountain biking in South Africa. This unique event is a perfect fit. Originally, it was scheduled to be a 360km race in 36 hours. We managed to change it to 361km in 36.1 hours, in keeping with our 36ONE business philosophy of being a degree different, going the extra distance and putting in the extra time in order to achieve success,” added Liptz.

Organised by Drlyand Event Management, the 36ONE MTB Challenge, as with all their events, raises funds and awareness to support community development of the communities through which their events pass.

Day 9, joBerg2c: Evans, George make winning debut at joBerg2c

Ariane Kleinhans. Photo: Luke Pallett

Kevin Evans and David George debuted in spectacular fashion at the third annual joBerg2c, taking five stage wins en route to overall victory at Scottburgh main beach on Saturday.

The Nedbank 360Life duo, who won the African leader jersey at the recent Absa Cape Epic, conquered both their rivals and the nine-day, 910km journey from Heidelberg in Gauteng to the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast.

Their overall time of 32 hours 27 minutes and 39 seconds put them 17 minutes clear of defending champions Neil MacDonald and Waylon Woolcock of RE:CM, who recorded a total time of 32:44:43.

The final day’s racing over 71km ended in a dramatic sprint across the beach, with RE:CM cementing their runner-up spot in the overall standings with a second stage win in 2:27:59. Nedbank 360Life trailed in seven seconds later.

Itec Connect-Vodacom’s David Morison and Louis Bresler Knipe finished two minutes off the pace in 2:30:06 to take third on the day and the final step on the podium overall in 33:27:09.

The shortest of the nine stages commenced at a furious pace as the teams left Jolivet Farm in the Highflats region.

MacDonald and Woolcock rode hard upfront to force an early break on the single track, which the riders hit after 5km.

Only Evans and George, Morison and Knipe, and the Transact pair of Paul Cordes and Arno du Toit, were able to join them.

“Once the break was there, it was just a matter of consolidating to the end,” said Evans.

The hills towards the first waterpoint, after 33km, split the front group and the two top teams in this year’s race, RE:CM and Nedbank 360Life, were able to open up a gap of 1:20 on Itec-Connect Vodacom and Transact.

MacDonald and Woolcock continued to drive the pace up Heart Rate Hill, with Evans and George sitting on comfortably.

At the top, just 15km from Scottburgh, the fate of Knipe and Morison and Cordes and Du Toit was effectively sealed. 

“It played out pretty much as we thought,” said Evans.

Erik Kleinhans. Photo: Luke Pallett

“RE:CM wanted to win one more stage, so we had a free ride and just got to sit on. It was actually nice because it’s an easier way to end the tour.”

Evans said the event had exceeded his every expectation and that they had thoroughly enjoyed interacting with the 550-odd riders in the community-run race villages.

“They said it’s all about the riders and certainly the trails are testament to that. It’s one of the top races I’ve done; definitely in this country.

He said the two standout stages had been day four, when the riders dropped down the escarpment from Sterkfontein Dam into KwaZulu-Natal, and the penultimate stage through the Umkomaas River Valley.

“I’m sure it will become an important race for our team from now on.”

The Nedbank 360Life rider said he and George had gotten a lot out of the event but had also been proud to give something back.

They donated a wheelchair per stage win to the Cycling for Mobility initiative and an additional 14 from the proceeds of the auction of their African leader jersey.

Evans said they were now looking forward to their next big goal, the BOE sani2c, which traces the last three days of the Old Mutual joBerg2c.

“We’re spoilt to be able to come back and do this twice in the space of two weeks. We’ve checked out the tracks and I think we know where we’re going to make the racing.”

Ischen Stopforth and Catherine Williamson of bizhub-FCF took line honours in 2:57:17 to seal an almost uncontested victory in the women’s race in 38:33:27.

Contego 28E’s powerhouse couple, Erik and Ariane Kleinhans, also added the mixed category medal to their recent Epic title, completing the nine days of riding in 36:08:58.

For latest results – click here.

For all joBerg2c news updates, click here.

Day 8, joBerg2c: Bittersweet win for joBerg2c leaders

Overall leaders David George (left) and Kevin Evans of Nedbank 360Life win the eighth stage of the joBerg2c on Friday. Photo: Coetzee Gouws/Full Stop Communications

Kevin Evans and David George of Nedbank 360Life enjoyed a bittersweet triumph on the penultimate day of the  joBerg2c as they dedicated their fifth stage win on Friday to the memory of friend and former national rider Juan van Heerden.

“He was a talented cyclist and a good guy who battled depression for years,” said George. “We wanted to celebrate his life with a win.”

The Nedbank 360Life riders consolidated their overall lead, which now stands at 17 minutes, on the 99km eighth stage from McKenzie Club near Ixopo to Jolivet Farm in the Highflats region of KwaZulu-Natal.

They clinched the Umkomaas River Valley leg, which traces the second day of the well-known BOE sani2c route, in a time of 3:48:07 to finish more than eight minutes clear of RE:CM’s Neil MacDonald and Waylon Woolcock, who crossed the line in 3:56:30.

Itec Connect-Vodacom’s David Morison and Louis Bresler Knipe put in another big effort to take third in 4:00:37.

The stage eight podium finishers lead the overall standings in the same order.

George said the top teams had started the day at a flying pace on a 7km stretch of district road before heading into the first technical section.

”We tried to get into the single track first but then Kevin dropped his chain, so he was stuck a couple of places back and I had to wait for him.”

Overall leaders David George (left) and Kevin Evans of Nedbank 360Life dedicate their win in the eighth stage of the joBerg2c on Friday to former national cyclist Juan van Heerden who passed away yesterday. Photo: Coetzee Gouws/Full Stop Communications

With the problem solved, the two made up time to catch and pass frontrunners MacDonald and Woolcock on the descent into the valley. “Neil was alright but I could see Waylon was battling a bit behind him.

“Obviously as soon as Kev and I got past, we gassed it down the rest of the descent towards the floating bridge.

“I think we had gained enough time by the first waterpoint (at around 40km) to demotivate the chase.”

Having lost his partner due to illness, solo rider Brandon Stewart of FedGroup-Itec Connect sat on as the Nedbank 360Life duo opened up a two-minute gap on the chasing group that included Woolcock and MacDonald, Morison and Knipe and the Transact pair of Paul Cordes and Arno du Toit.

By the time the leaders stopped to refuel at the second waterpoint after 62km, they were seven minutes ahead of RE:CM’s defending champs. Morison and Knipe were a further 90 seconds adrift with Cordes and Du Toit also losing ground.

Nedbank 360Life maintained their lead through waterpoint three and continued to push the pace through the Sappi plantations to take line honours at Jolivet.

George said they had achieved much more than they had expected to in their first outing at the event, which included pledging a wheelchair per stage win to the Cycling for Mobility initiative. 

“With prize-money on each stage, we obviously would like to seal overall victory with another win.”

However, he acknowledged that anything could happen on the closing leg towards Scottburgh. “It’s never a done deal but our margin for error is obviously a lot better now.”

According to MacDonald, he and Woolcock had done their utmost but the leaders had shown they were strongest on the day. “I think the Epic’s taking its toll on us now but we’re still happy with our second overall and stage victory.”

Erik Kleinhans celebrated his 30th birthday with a seventh consecutive stage win in the mixed category alongside wife Ariane. The Contego 28E pair stopped the clock on 4:27:39, almost 10 minutes in front of nearest rivals Johan Labuschagne and Yolande de Villiers of Cycle Lab KTM.

Rampant bizhub-FCF riders Ischen Stopforth and Catherine Williamson remained in complete control of the women’s race as they took the win in 4:46:07, once again ahead of Sarah van Heerden and Jackie Church of Itec Connect-Vodacom .

Having built up comfortable margins on the general standings, the respective category leaders are also expected to claim the overall honours when the 910km race wraps up with a swift 75km stage to Scottburgh on Saturday.

For latest results – click here.

For all joBerg2c news updates, click here.

Day 7, joBerg2c: Only two in it to win it!

Overall leaders Kevin Evans and David George of Nedbank 360Life win their fourth stage of the 2012 joBerg2c on Thursday. Photo: Coetzee Gouws/Full Stop Communications

After seven days of racing, the joBerg2c is coming down to a two-horse race between defending champions Neil McDonald and Waylon Woolcock of RE:CM and overall leaders Kevin Evans and David George of Nedbank 360Life.

On Thursday, Evans and George notched up their fourth stage victory as they outsprinted Woolcock and MacDonald after 86km of racing between Hazeldene Farm near Underberg and McKenzie Club in the Ixopo region of KwaZulu-Natal.

The Nedbank 360Life outfit completed the stage in 2:53:19, five seconds ahead of RE:CM, who had moved into second place in the general classification the previous day.

The Itec Connect-Vodacom pairing of David Morison and Louis Bresler Knipe were also in the mix but slipped off the pace to finish 14 seconds adrift.

“I suppose we all knew that it would come down to a sprint up that nasty climb to the finish,” said Evans.

“Neil was probably the strongest but went a little too early and Waylon came over him too hard while he was trying to recover, which gave us the win.”

A big lead bunch reached the start of the Oak Lane dual single track after 20km, where the top three teams split off the front.

“Dave and I were half-wheeling each other on the tracks,” said Evans. “Then we came out and it was the usual hard pull out of there.

“When we looked back it was just the two other teams and us.”

RE:CM and Nedbank 360Life dropped Itec Connect-Vodacom shortly afterwards and built up a lead of around 40 seconds by the time they reached the floating bridge after 31km.

Morison and Knipe then took full advantage of the leaders’ refuelling stop at the first waterpoint after 38km to make up lost ground. They opted not to stop and were briefly able to latch onto the two leading teams before being detached for a second time.

They fell back by 30 seconds but rallied gamely to close the gap again by the final waterpoint.

“Louis and Dave rode really well to catch us after about 60km and then it was just the three teams to sprint it out. It was very close in the end.”

JoBerg2c overall leaders Ischen Stopforth (left) and British partner Catherine Williamson.Photo: Coetzee Gouws/Full Stop Communications

Evans, a four-time BOE sani2c winner, said he felt at home on the last three days of the Old Mutual joBerg2c, which traced the popular three-stager’s route.

“Tomorrow suits us and we’ve won sani2c on that stage before but getting there with 800km in the legs is a different story.

“We keep thinking it’s only six-and-a-half hours of racing left but anything can happen so we won’t take anything for granted just yet.”

He said their strategy would be to race conservatively and consolidate their almost nine-minute lead. “I’d really like one of those little tractor trophies for my mantelpiece.

“I think we would also like to donate one more wheelchair but the RE:CM guys are strong and if it comes down to a flat sprint tomorrow I think we’re going to battle a little.”

In the women’s race, bizhub-FCF’s Ischen Stopforth and her British partner Catherine Williamson once again swept to victory, in 3:24:01, ahead of the Itec Connect-Vodacom team of Sarah van Heerden and Jackie Church, who were nine minutes behind.

Williamson said they were still determined to ride aggressively even though they were not under serious pressure given their seemingly unassailable lead of around 83 minutes.

“I think the main thing is just to get safely through the next two days. Tomorrow’s a really enjoyable stage and you want to get a good position in the single track.”

Taking their sixth straight win in as many racing stages, mixed category leaders Erik and Ariane Kleinhans of Contego 28E sailed home in 3:10:33, just less than a minute ahead of Johan Labuschagne and Yolande de Villiers of Cycle Lab KTM.

Day seven saw no change among the overall leaders in the three main categories.

Friday’s penultimate stage covers 96km from McKenzie Club to Jolivet Farm in the Highflats region, a ride famous for its unique crossing of the Umkomaas River on a semi-suspended floating bridge.

The third edition of the Old Mutual joBerg2c finishes at Scottburgh on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast on Saturday.

For latest results – click here.

For all joBerg2c news updates, click here.

Day 6, joBerg2c: Evans, George win with purpose

Kevin Evans and David George on day six of the nine-day joBerg2c on Wednesday

Kevin Evans and David George had more than winning on their minds as they extended their already comfortable overall lead to almost nine minutes on day six of the nine-day Old Mutual joBerg2c on Wednesday.

The Nedbank 360Life riders were racing for a greater purpose as they sealed their third stage victory in 3:17:13 on the gruelling 94km route from Glengarry resort in the Kamberg district to Hazeldene Farm near Underberg.

They were followed home by RE:CM’s stage five winners Neil MacDonald and Waylon Woolcock in 3:21:08, while the Itec Connect-Vodacom team of David Morison and Louis Bresler Knipe took the final podium spot in 3:29:45.

Evans and George claimed the R10 000 prize money and made good on their promise to donate a wheelchair per stage win to the Cycling for Mobility cause.

“We wanted to give away another wheelchair so we weren’t going to mess around with it today,” said Evans.

“My boss just said to think about the kids who would love to ride a bike and can’t because they are confined to a wheelchair – or don’t even have one. That makes you dig a little deeper.”

It was a bittersweet day for him as he helped one of these disabled children but missed his daughter Ruby’s first day at school.

With the FedGroup-Itec Connect team of Brandon Stewart and Jacques Rossouw slipping from third to ninth overall due to Rossouw’s illness, Evans said only the defending champions RE:CM now posed a serious threat.

“But it seems they’re also happy to give a bit of money away to charity, so if they want to work and take another stage win, we won’t object.”

According to Evans, day six’s challenging mix of district roads and nearly 2 000 metres of climbing had suited him and George. “We’d marked it off as a stage that we could win.”

The day’s racing started out with all the top teams present in the big lead bunch.

As the first of the big climbs approached, Evans and his team-mate set a hard tempo, with only the RE:CM riders able to follow.

George launched a second attack after the 30km mark on the long ascent up Snow Top Mountain, which at 1 850m is the highest point on the 910km race route.

They built a lead of almost two minutes but MacDonald and Woolcock, accompanied by Transact’s Nico Bell and Stewart riding solo, gained time on the 12km descent to narrow the gap to 50 seconds by the time they reached the river crossing at the bottom.

However, at the 60km mark, the leaders showed their skill once again on the next rocky climb, the ominously named Death Valley Road, and increased their lead to just under two minutes.

“We looked back on the last climb to check if they were coming but I think by that time the elastic had snapped and the guys had probably just decided to race for second and third.”

The four-time BOE sani2c champion said he was looking forward to riding the next three stages, which cover the same route.

“Knowing the next couple of days, the riding really suits us. Tomorrow ends in a bit of an uphill drag, so if there’s a sprint it could be good for us.”

There was some excitement in the mixed category as Johan Labuschagne and Yolande de Villiers of Cycle Lab KTM made an early break, but they were eventually hauled in by overall leaders Erik and Ariane Kleinhans of Contego 28E.

The husband and wife team once again crossed the line first (3:52:24), followed by the Cycle Lab KTM duo (3:56:27) and the PeptoPro-bizhub pairing of Carel Bosman and Leana de Jager (4:17:07).

Bizhub-FCF’s Ischen Stopforth and Catherine Williamson had a tough stage but still took the win in the women’s category in 4:14:00, ahead of Itec Connect-Vodacom’s Sarah van Heerden and Jackie Church, who finished in 4:27:08.

The men’s, ladies’ and mixed teams who podiumed on day six occupy the same positions on the overall standings.

The 86km seventh stage takes participants from Underberg to the MacKenzie Country Club near Ixopo.

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Day 5, joBerg2c: Champs sprint to stage win

Defending champs Waylon Woolcock and Neil MacDonald of RE:CM take their first stage win on day five of the joBerg2c, which played out over 102km from Winterton to Kamberg in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands. Photo: Full Stop Communications

Defending champions Neil MacDonald and Waylon Woolcock proved they were well and truly in the mix as they chalked up their first stage win to move into second overall on day five of the joBerg2c on Tuesday.

The 102km stage from Winterton to Kamberg in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands ended in a thrilling sprint finale against overall leaders Kevin Evans and David George.

RE:CM stopped the clock on 3:34:21, two seconds ahead of Nedbank 360 Life and almost five minutes quicker than the 3:39:13 of Brandon Stewart and Jacques Rossouw of Fedgroup-Itec Connect, who started the day in second.

MacDonald and Woolcock’s speed over the final metres was reminiscent of their showing in last year’s race when they won six of the eight racing stages in a similar manner.

It also shows what might have been had MacDonald not suffered mechanical problems in sight of the finish on stage three when the same two teams were in contention.

MacDonald said their knowledge of the course had given them an advantage over first-time entrants Evans and George at the end.

“We knew that if we took the single track from the front there would be a good chance that they wouldn’t be able to come over us.”

According to Woolcock, racing had started at a steady pace as the teams recovered from yesterday’s gruelling climbing stage between Sterkfontein Dam and Winterton.

“Then Kevin and David started putting on the gas on the climbs, which whittled down the bunch.”

Defending champs Waylon Woolcock and Neil MacDonald. Photo: Full Stop Communications

Approaching the Dalton climb, after 53km, the leading group consisted of the podium finishers, David Morison and Louis Bresler Knipe of Itec Connect-Vodacom, Kenyans Davidson Kamau and Somson Gichuru of Old Mutual Simbas and Gawie Combrinck and Nico Bell of Transact.

Aggressive ascending saw the top three teams splinter off the front and at the base of the steep hill up to waterpoint two Rossouw was next to falter.

This forced Stewart to fall back to his partner in the chasing group, which also comprised Kamau and Gichuru and Morison and Knipe.

The FedGroup Itec-Connect duo soon left their companions behind as they tried to preserve their second place in the general classification, but, despite their best efforts, the gap ballooned to over four minutes.

Woolcock said Evans and George made one last push on the final climb and were able to establish a small lead. “We caught them in the forest and were left to make the pace for the last 30 kilometres as we needed to gain time over Stewart and Rossouw.”

The former road rider said he and his partner had been pleasantly surprised by how well they were climbing and were looking forward to stage six, which would offer similar terrain.

Mixed category leaders Erik and Ariane Kleinhans of Contego 28E maintained their stranglehold on the race by winning the stage in 3:59:11, a little over five minutes ahead of Johan Labuschagne and Yolande de Villiers of Cycle Lab KTM.

The bizhub-FCF pairing of Ischen Stopforth and Brit Catherine Williamson continued to be unchallenged as they added their fourth stage victory in 4:13:13. The Itec Connect-Vodacom combination of Sarah van Heerden and Jackie Church were second in 4:28:31.

Stage six covers 94km between Glengarry resort in Kamberg and Hazeldean farm in the Underberg region.

For latest results – click here.

For all joBerg2c news updates, click here.