Team Strove powered by FRIB are the 2023 KAP sani2c nonstop champions, having navigated the 250 kms between Underberg and Scottburgh in a time of 12:12:29. The route covers most of the three-day KAP sani2c route, including the legendary Umko Drop descent into the Umkomaas Valley, and participants have 24 hours to complete the course, stopping for photos at checkpoints where they meet up with their support driver.
With many South African mountain bikers having experienced some serious FOMO watching the KAP sani2c action last weekend, they can still be tempted by the KAP sani2c nonstop taking place next weekend, 13-14 May.
With 2 minutes 31 seconds to play with in Stage 3 of the KAP sani2c, Matt Beers and Tristan Nortje of Toyota-Specialized (02:40:48) only had to stick to the wheels of their closest rivals to ensure overall victory during the 86 kms between Jolivet Farm and Scottburgh Golf Club. Imbuko {Type} Dev’s Marco Joubert and Wessel Botha made a valiant effort to make a break, but Beers and Nortje did not give them an inch, until a sprint finish gave a stage win to the Imbuko {Type} Dev A team (02:40:44).
With a cool cloudy start to the day and a descent into the Umkomaas Valley without sun in their eyes, the top riders at KAP sani2c’s 92 km Queen’s Stage, focused on getting to the front of the bunch before the real challenge of making a break, either before or during the Iconic Climb at the 60 km mark. It was Matt Beers and Tristan Nortje of Toyota Specialized who were able to make the break and now have an overall lead of 2 minutes 31 going into tomorrow’s final stage. They finished in 03:16:51. Imbuko {Type} Dev’s Marco Joubert and Wessel Botha (03:19:28) were second, and Insect Science’s Arno du Toit and Keagan Bontekoning were third (03:22:21).
As is common on day one of the KAP sani2c, sprint finishes decided the top four places, with Marco Joubert and Wessel Botha of Imbuko {Type} Dev A (02:52:40) a mere 4.6 seconds ahead of Matt Beers and Tristan Nortje of Toyota-Specialized (02:52:45).
