{"id":818,"date":"2011-05-04T16:05:37","date_gmt":"2011-05-04T14:05:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/?p=818"},"modified":"2011-05-04T16:05:37","modified_gmt":"2011-05-04T14:05:37","slug":"joberg2c-now-a-two-horse-race","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/joberg2c-now-a-two-horse-race\/","title":{"rendered":"joBerg2c now a two-horse race"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Fairbairn Capital\/Old Mutual joBerg2c is fast becoming a two-horse race after another dominant performance by Waylon Woolcock and Neil MacDonald<\/a> of Team RE:CM and Brandon Stewart and Darren Lill of FedGroup Berg and Bush on Wednesday.<\/p>\n

Woolcock and MacDonald once again got the better of Stewart and Lill in the sprint to register a time of 3:38:00 for the undulating 93-kilometre journey between Kamberg and Hazeldene<\/a> farm in the vicinity of Underberg<\/a> in the Southern Drakensberg.<\/p>\n

David Morison and Stuart Marais of Blend Properties captured their second podium in as many days by crossing the line in a competitive 3:44:23.<\/p>\n

With MTN-DoItNow’s Rwandan star Adrien Niyonshuti<\/a> clearly hampered by a knee injury sustained during a crash on day four, he and partner Max Knox, many’s pre-race favourites, continued to lose big chunks of time.<\/p>\n

The pair however managed to hang on to fourth with a time of 3:53:09, holding off the chasing Shaun Peschl and Brett Dickson of Marshall World of Sport, who completed the stage in 3:54:15.<\/p>\n

Stewart and Lill now lead the overall standings on 25:09:59 ahead of MacDonald and Woolcock, who have amassed a total time of 25:11:08. Knox and Niyonshuti’s 25:39:13 sees them retain third.<\/p>\n

“Although we’ve won today, they seemed very comfortable,” said a tired but happy MacDonald. “We attacked as much as possible over the last 10 kilometres, but didn’t make much impact.<\/p>\n

“We really thought today was going to be the day with all the climbing, but I think the previous stages have taken their toll on everyone. After 700 kilometres of racing the mind is willing, but the body not so eager.”<\/p>\n

Team RE:CM took the early initiative and applied pressure on the seven-kilometre Vergelegen<\/a> ascent heading towards the first waterpoint, but to no avail.<\/p>\n

On the technical climb after the day’s big river crossing around the 50-kilometre mark, it was Stewart and Lill who were able to establish a 20-second lead, but all came together as soon as they hit the district roads.<\/p>\n

“The distances between the technical sections and district roads were too big to make it count,” said Stewart. “That climb was the last real opportunity.”<\/p>\n

MacDonald said Stewart had been climbing strongly. “I marked him, while Waylon did the same with Darren. So it was all pretty much neutralised.”<\/p>\n

“Although we don’t have the lead, we can’t ask for anything more. It’s been great for our sponsors.”<\/p>\n

According to MacDonald, they were gaining in confidence as the days passed and felt they were still in with a chance.<\/p>\n

His team-mate said the race was now becoming a balancing act.<\/p>\n

“Although we must attack, it’s all about pacing yourself over nine days. We can’t afford to make stupid mistakes.”<\/p>\n

In the women’s section, Team bizhub’s Ischen Stopforth (4:25:55; 29:14:09) and her British partner Catherine Williamson continued to stretch their lead over Team Develop’s Yolandi du Toit and her Mauritian partner Aur\u00e9lie Halbwachs (4:45:35; 30:41:14).<\/p>\n

Erik and Ariane Kleinhans of Fairbairn Capital (4:08:37; 27:53:16) also continued their dominance in the mixed by getting the better of Johan Labuschagne and Yolande de Villiers of Cycle Lab KTM (4:16:03; 28:57:37).<\/p>\n

The race finishes on the beach in Scottburgh<\/a> on Saturday.<\/p>\n

Visit www.joberg2c.co.za, follow joberg2c_journo on Twitter or join the Facebook page.<\/p>\n

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Waylon Woolcock and Neil MacDonald of RE:CM celebrate after winning their fourth stage in the nine-day Fairbairn Capital\/Old Mutual joBerg2c. Photo: Full Stop Communications<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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