Events

Knox and Evans sew up 10th sani2c

· By Press Office · 10 comments

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.

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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, which finished in Scottburgh, KwaZulu-Natal, on Saturday. Photo: Full Stop Communications

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.

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.

Kargo Pro’s 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.

It was Evans’s sixth triumph in the 265km stage race – the largest of its kind in the world – and Knox’s third.

“So that’s nine wins from 10 events, which is pretty special,” said Evans.

He and Knox won the first two stages to take a comfortable three-and-a-half-minute lead into the final day.

“Today wasn’t about the stage win, we just wanted to sew up the victory for FedGroup-Itec,” he said.

“It’s been a while coming but the form is there and it’s the start of good things.”

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.

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

The day’s results were just reward for the young Kargo Pro and Trek Racing teams, who also led the charge on Friday’s 100km queen stage before blowing on the climb out of the Umkomaas River Valley.

“Today I went early and fortunately Kargo Pro chased and caught up with us,” said stage winner Davids.

“There was a bit of cat and mouse throughout the stage but we timed our last attack well and hit the bridge together.

“It 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.”

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RECM’s 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 edition of the world’s largest mountain bike stage race finished in Scottburgh, KwaZulu-Natal, on Saturday. Photo: Full Stop Communications

In the mixed category, RECM’s 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.

Kleinhans, whose husband Erik crashed out of the men’s race on day two with a torn shoulder joint, said she was very pleased with how smoothly her team’s race had played out.

“We’re very pleased with how it went today. It can always go the other way, as Erik showed yesterday.

“Lourens was really strong, sitting at the front all day. I know I can trust his wheel and he knows how to ride technical stuff.”

Sasol Racing’s Yolande de Villiers and Johan Labuschagne followed them home in 2:55:35 to take second overall in 10:25:28.

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.

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

South African marathon champion Robyn de Groot and Sweden’s 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’s event in 10:36:26.

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.

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

“It was our first race together and it went really well,” said De Groot. “We both had good and bad days but that’s what teamwork’s all about.”

“It was an awesome race and I’d love to come back year after year,” added Stenerhag.

Someone who will not be returning is FedGroup-Itec’s Neil MacDonald, who announced his retirement from professional mountain biking on Friday evening.

“I’ve always liked this event and I’ve had some good results here. Some things have come up and I just decided that now was the decisive moment to bow out.”

Former roadie MacDonald, 37, said he would continue to be involved in various business ventures related to cycling.

“I thought about it long and hard and I have quite a lot to offer, especially to the younger generation. Cycling’s given me so much over the years, it’s only right to give something back.”

Visit www.sani2c.co.za for more information. Alternatively, follow @sani2c_scoop or find the race on Facebook.

RESULTS

Stage 3

Men:

1. Arno du Toit & Brendon Davids (Trek Racing) 2:35:05

2. Rourke Croeser & Travis Walker (Kargo Pro) 2:35:06

3. Andrew Hill & Darren Lill (Red-E/TIB) 2:38:25

Women:

1. Jennie Stenerhag & Robyn de Groot (Biogen Toyota-Cape Brewing) 3:03:39

2. Yolande Speedy & Yolandi du Toit (Garmin-ASG) 3:14:43

3. Natalie Bergstrom & Tammy Visagie (Baeti) 3:21:31

Mixed:

1. Ariane Kleinhans & Lourens Luus (RECM) 2:48:48

2. Yolande de Villiers & Johan Labuschagne (Sasol Racing) 2:55:35

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

Overall

Men:

1. Kevin Evans & Max Knox (FedGroup-Itec) 8:57:45

2. Gawie Combrinck & Johann Rabie (EAI South Africa) 9:01:08

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

Women:

1. Jennie Stenerhag & Robyn de Groot (Biogen Toyota-Cape Brewing) 10:36:26

2. Yolande Speedy & Yolandi du Toit (Garmin-ASG) 11:29:04

3. Natalie Bergstrom & Tammy Visagie (Baeti) 11:57:40

Mixed:

1. Ariane Kleinhans & Lourens Luus (RECM) 9:49:56

2. Yolande de Villiers & Johan Labuschagne (Sasol Racing) 10:25:28

3. Igna de Villiers & Dalene van der Leek (Lge/Midas/Bells Racing) 10:45:18

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Comments

andydude

May 18, 2014, 5:35 PM

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.

 

Click here to view the article

 

Interesting podium interviews...

Meezo

May 19, 2014, 6:29 AM

Interesting podium interviews...

 

the crash, i missed any gopro or highlight action?

Guest Kalahari ou

May 19, 2014, 6:38 AM

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.

 

Click here to view the article

 

It's nice to see hubbers going out and making name :clap:

 

(well, he has a hub account so he is a Hubber!)

nonky

May 19, 2014, 5:11 PM

ariane's time is totally unbelievable...what an athlete

Slowbee

May 19, 2014, 5:17 PM

oh my google - their overall win time is about the same amount of time it takes us, me others to do day 2, let alone the entire thing !

Stretch

May 19, 2014, 6:01 PM

ariane's time is totally unbelievable...what an athlete

 

Always interests me that when you put a girl with a guy the times are significantly faster than the leading ladies time... 2 ladies don't push each other hard enough compared to a guy and a Lady?

PeterF

May 19, 2014, 6:08 PM

Yeah a guy always pushes a lady harder......

 

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andydude

May 20, 2014, 5:13 AM

Always interests me that when you put a girl with a guy the times are significantly faster than the leading ladies time... 2 ladies don't push each other hard enough compared to a guy and a Lady?

 

I rode with them most of stage 3. First of all Lourens was an absolute machine. Sat in the front and paced the whole way with her tucked in behind. They actually go pretty steady all the way and don't climb that fast. He didn't push her that much. She is a machine in her own right.

andydude

May 20, 2014, 5:14 AM

the crash, i missed any gopro or highlight action?

 

Talking about Kevin's interview and Max's almost interview.

Gen

May 20, 2014, 5:29 AM

Ha ha ha.. I watched the highlights last night.. had a good giggle after day 2's interview with Evans when he spoke of the crash and how he thought he had hurt his collarbone again and asked Max to have a look and Max said his legs look fine lets go ha ha ha

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