{"id":20282,"date":"2013-06-08T21:46:56","date_gmt":"2013-06-08T19:46:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/evans-and-stewart-draw-even-in-knysna\/"},"modified":"2013-06-08T21:46:56","modified_gmt":"2013-06-08T19:46:56","slug":"evans-and-stewart-draw-even-in-knysna","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/evans-and-stewart-draw-even-in-knysna\/","title":{"rendered":"Evans and Stewart draw even in Knysna"},"content":{"rendered":"

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

Kevin Evans of FedGroup-Itec drives the pace during the second stage of the RE:CM Knysna<\/a> 200 on Saturday.
Photo: Coetzee Gouws\/Full Stop Communications<\/p>\n

Kevin Evans and Brandon Stewart effectively drew even as their titanic two-team tussle with Waylon Woolcock and Lourens Luus continued on the rain-soaked second stage of the RE:CM Knysna 200 on Saturday.<\/p>\n

The FedGroup-Itec riders held off overnight leaders RE:CM in a tense and tactical sprint to the finish at Thesen Harbour Town to win the 68km stage by a single second in 2:31:04.<\/p>\n

Little more than half a second now separates Evans and Stewart from Woolcock and Luus, who still lead the overall standings in 5:30:23.<\/p>\n

Bridge riders Nico Pfitzenmaier and Timo Cooper crossed the line third in 2:35:13 (5:42:54) to retain the same position in the general classification.<\/p>\n

With Stewart showing signs of struggling soon after the start at Rheenendal, Pfitzenmaier and Cooper put in a couple of big early efforts in near-perfect mountain biking conditions.<\/p>\n

Woolcock and Luus were able to reel them back each time, with a recovering Stewart and Evans rejoining the leaders among the hills of the Garden Route National Park<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The three teams reached the first waterpoint, in the vicinity of Millwood around 18km into the stage, as the weather took a turn for the worse and the rain set in.<\/p>\n

\u201cI said to Kev that my legs were feeling better,\u201d said Stewart. \u201cSo he said, \u2018Buckle in and climb!\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Kevin<\/a><\/p>\n

Kevin Evans and Brandon Stewart of FedGroup-Itec, left, lead breakaway companions Waylon Woolcock and Lourens Luus of RE:CM during the closing stages of the second day of the RE:CM Knysna 200 on Saturday.
Photo: Coetzee Gouws\/Full Stop Communications<\/p>\n

They put in several surges on the ascents on the Goudveld forest loop and continued to work hard at the front of the group.<\/p>\n

The pace eventually proved too much for the Bridge duo, who were dropped on the technical single track section around the 30km mark.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen we saw the gap, we took it and rode away with the RE:CM boys,\u201d said Stewart.<\/p>\n

At the second waterpoint in the Homtini section of the park, approximately 10km later, Pfitzenmaier and Cooper were one minute off the back.<\/p>\n

RE:CM and FedGroup-Itec turned up the gas on the Rheenendal road and by the time they hit the new single track near Phantom Pass they had opened a more than two-minute gap on the chasing pair.<\/p>\n

\u201cI knew the finish was going to be a bit dodgy and unsafe if you tried to sprint with four guys,\u201d said Evans.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo I jumped before we went through the Knysna waterfront and Waylon came with me.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe left Brandon and Lourens to sprint it out and as Brandon\u2019s got more of a kick than me, I left it to him to deal with the laaitie.\u201d<\/p>\n

Battling shoulder to shoulder, Stewart just edged out the 21-year-old national marathon series champion to secure the stage win.<\/p>\n

Evans, who is based in the neighbouring town of Plettenberg Bay<\/a>, said he was looking forward to the fast-paced 57km final stage through the Harkerville forest, which is literally in his own backyard.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know the trails well, so that has to be an advantage. But it seems that it might come down to a sprint again tomorrow and if you lose by one second, well, so be it.\u201d<\/p>\n

With more rain predicted for Sunday, Woolcock said the weather would certainly play a role.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt should make the racing interesting, as Harkerville is wet at the best of times. With Kevin knowing the trails back to front, they\u2019ll definitely have the advantage.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re quite evenly matched, so we\u2019re hoping another team like Bridge trying to take the stage win will be able to split things up for us.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the women\u2019s race, Howard Chamberlain\u2019s Heletje van Staden and Nicci Grobler took the stage win in 3:20:39 (7:23:50) to extend their overall lead.<\/p>\n

Mixed category leaders Philip and Annari Jordaan of Mixed Emotions won the day in 3:35:38 (7:39:45) to consolidate their top spot in the overall rankings.<\/p>\n

For updates, go to @gardenroutelive, Facebook or www.recmknysna200.co.za.<\/p>\n

RESULTS<\/p>\n

Stage 2<\/p>\n

Men: 1. Kevin Evans Brandon Stewart (FedGroup-Itec) 2:31:04; 2. Waylon Woolcock Lourens Luus (RE:CM) 2:31:05; 3. Timo Cooper Nico Pfitzenmaier (Bridge) 2:35:13; 4. Matthew Brittain Rob Dormehl (RE:CM Rowers) 2:39:48; 5. Martin Epstein Andrew Davies (Epstein Davies) 2:51:52<\/p>\n

Women: 1. Heletje van Staden Nicci Grobler (Howard-Chamberlain) 3:20:39; 2. Theresa Horn Miriam Stronkhorst (First Ascent) 3:41:43; 3. Judith Scheepers Lindsey Chicken (Bikeplus) 3:48:10; 4. Desiree Strydom Arlien Mattheus (Dynamite Chicks) 3:59:53; 5. Franci Joubert Marianne du Plessis (Twosome) 4:40:56<\/p>\n

Mixed: 1. Philip Jordaan Annari Jordaan (Mixed Emotions) 3:35:38; 2. John Tennent Diana Carolin (Tennent\u2019s Laager) 3:40:10; 3. JJ le Roux Karen le Roux (Beauty and the Best) 3:48:12; 4. Ico Schutte Jessi Stensland (Ultimate Cycling) 3:54:20; 5. Pieter Oelofse Yzette Oelofse (Boys and Bikes) 3:55:27<\/p>\n

Overall<\/p>\n

Men: 1. Waylon Woolcock Lourens Luus (RE:CM) 5:30:23; 2. Kevin Evans Brandon Stewart (FedGroup-Itec) 5:30:24; 3. Timo Cooper Nico Pfitzenmaier (Bridge) 5:42:54; 4. Martin Epstein Andrew Davies (Epstein Davies) 6:15:56; 5. Matthew Brittain Rob Dormehl (RE:CM Rowers) 6:30:41<\/p>\n

Women: 1. Heletje van Staden Nicci Grobler (Howard-Chamberlain) 7:23:50; 2. Theresa Horn Miriam Stronkhorst (First Ascent) 8:04:57; 3. Judith Scheepers Lindsey Chicken (Bikeplus) 8:14:06; 4. Desiree Strydom Arlien Mattheus (Dynamite Chicks) 8:33:17; 5. Penni Hirst Terry Todd (Belvidere Girls) 9:09:52<\/p>\n

Mixed: 1. Philip Jordaan Annari Jordaan (Mixed Emotions) 7:39:45; 2. John Tennent Diana Carolin (Tennent\u2019s Laager) 7:52:26; 3. Pieter Oelofse Yzette Oelofse (Boys and Bikes) 8:13:08; 4. Ico Schutte Jessi Stensland (Ultimate Cycling) 8:27:41; 5. Johan Jacobs Colleen Jacobs (Lucky Valley) 8:31:01<\/p>\n

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