RECAP: 3 days of the FNB Wines2Whales this year
This was the SHIRAZ.
The FNB Wines2Whales come in 3 flavours. It starts with the ladies in the Chardonnay. Then the midweek-kuier that is the Pinotage. And finishes with the racing snakes (or want to be racing snakes) in the Shiraz on the final weekend. Eldorette Carinus mentioned numbers and if I remember correctly it was something like 1200 for the first weekend; 800 in the midweek; plus 1100 on the Shiraz. That’s over 3000 riders for the FNB Wines2Whales and great going indeed. Making it the CPT version of the KAP sani2c. Or something to that effect. Either way, have a look at how things panned out for each day during the shiraz the year.
Wines2Whales day 1 – windy start!
Oh my what a quick start. Lots of excitement and lots of over exuberance from the riders after the gun set off. The wind was howling and it was easy to blow a few candles quickly. But after we finally went through the first sandy patches and short singletrack through the trees things calmed down ever so slightly and people found their rhythm. And I am rather glad that we climbed higher up over the railroad and into Houw Hoek rather than the rutted switchback afternative we did in both directions during the EPIC in previous years. Into the race village and pick a tent! Thanks for a perfect start to the FNB Wines2Whales Shiraz edition this year…
Wines2Whales day 2 – best day ever
Ah the day that Matt Beers came down hard with a faceplant in the final corner and suffered some injuries afterwards. Such a pity. But these things happen. We woke up to a surprisingly cooler morning with some rain in the clouds. After expecting the hottest day of the week. The light drizzle was welcome and even though it was a slightly wet start the trails were in peak condition. Those who stayed out longer on the course would have had the cloud cover disappear and spent some time in the sun. Fun in the sun! Oh yes and surfing the wooden waves and loving the crowds at the amphitheater. FNB Wines2Whales day 2 still had the rugby in store for 10pm, and the Bokke did their thing against France in style!
Wines2Whales day 3 – down to the finish
I definitely prefer climbing up that route towards the compulsory portage that is the Gantouw pass with its wagon trails. Reason being is the twisty and sandy corners connecting Grabouw with the pass on the mountain’s side is easy to skid out of if you weigh nearly 111kgs and come down that way with momentum. So rather climbing it was the way to go. And then we go to the top and had to ‘run’ down the stairs. Which took what felt like ages simply because there as so many other riders. But after the wagon trail portage the stint into Vergelegen and the final trails to the finish line in Lourensford where all pure bliss. When can we do it again? FNB Wines2Whales you beauty!
Want to join us next year?
Let’s send your bicycle from anywhere in South Africa to the start of the FNB Wines2Whales!
