{"id":19445,"date":"2013-04-26T18:05:22","date_gmt":"2013-04-26T16:05:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/pros-poker-faced-at-old-mutual-joberg2c\/"},"modified":"2013-04-26T18:05:22","modified_gmt":"2013-04-26T16:05:22","slug":"pros-poker-faced-at-old-mutual-joberg2c","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/pros-poker-faced-at-old-mutual-joberg2c\/","title":{"rendered":"Pros poker-faced at Old Mutual joBerg2c"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t \"Olympic<\/a><\/p>\n

Olympic gold medallist Matthew Brittain<\/a> (left) and fellow rower Rob Dormehl (right) during the traditional dragon boat crossing of the Vaal Dam on the opening stage of the nine-day Old Mutual joBerg2c on Friday. Photo: Thys Dullaart<\/p>\n

The favourites played their cards close to their chests on the 116km neutral opening stage of the nine-day Old Mutual joBerg2c mountain bike race from Heidelberg in Gauteng to Frankfort in the Free State<\/a> on Friday.<\/p>\n

Last year\u2019s runner-up and former winner Neil MacDonald<\/a>, riding with FedGroup-Itec team-mate Brandon Stewart, finished safely inside the top 30 (4:56:47) in a bunch that also featured Waylon Woolcock and Lourens Luus of RE:CM and the Cannondale-Blend pairing of Charles Keey and Darren Lill.<\/p>\n

Two-time women\u2019s category winner Ischen Stopforth and ad hoc partner Yolande de Villiers, who won the mixed category at the inaugural event four years ago, proved to be a powerhouse new ladies\u2019 combination.<\/p>\n

Stopforth and De Villiers, riding in the sponsor\u2019s colours, led the entire elite field into the Wilgerivier High School sports fields to take the 116km stage in 4:38:18.<\/p>\n

They crossed the line three seconds ahead of the first men\u2019s team \u2013 British marathon racers Ben Thomas and Tim Dunford of Itec 4.<\/p>\n

Thomas and Dunford were followed home by Contego\u2019s Louis Bresler-Knipe and Kevin van Hoovels in 4:44:35, with Itec 2\u2032s Paul van Zweel and Peter Lee Jeffries a further two seconds off.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wouldn\u2019t say we were looking for a stage win but we got one,\u201d said Stopforth.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe started steady and just kept that pace. We didn\u2019t stop too much and just enjoyed the route.\u201d<\/p>\n

Stopforth, who finished second alongside Hanlie Booyens in the women\u2019s event at the Absa Cape Epic, said she and De Villiers were both feeling strong.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re obviously looking for the overall win but a stage race is a long thing. You have to stay healthy, you have to stay on your bike, so we\u2019ll just keep it steady.\u201d<\/p>\n

Father and daughter pairing Abbey and Robyn de Groot<\/a> (Born and Bred) took the mixed category in 3:47:24.<\/p>\n

Day one of the 910km race also featured a unique dragon boat crossing of the Vaal Dam.<\/p>\n

Olympic gold medallist Matthew Brittain was in his element alongside fellow rower and riding partner Rob Dormehl as they swopped pedals for paddles for the crossing.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a lot of fun, we just got into the boat and paddled across, it wasn\u2019t too serious.\u201d<\/p>\n

When asked whether there were any potential Olympians aboard his boat, the Avis rider simply laughed. \u201cNot in the rowing event!\u201d<\/p>\n

The racing starts in earnest on the 95km second stage from Frankfort to Reitz on Saturday.<\/p>\n

Visit www.joberg2c.co.za or follow the race on Facebook or @joberg2c_journo.<\/p>\n

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