The first full day of racing at the 2026 FNB Wines2Whales Chardonnay delivered everything riders have come to expect from South Africa’s favourite mountain bike stage race: spectacular scenery, world-class trails, iconic challenges and plenty of GEES.
Stage 1 took the field from Lourensford Wine Estate in Somerset West to Oak Valley Estate in Elgin, covering 61 kilometres and 1 400 metres of climbing. The route’s defining feature was the historic Gantouw Pass, the centuries-old wagon trail which has become one of the most iconic and demanding moments of every FNB Wines2Whales.
Having sold out months in advance and welcoming significantly more riders than in 2025, the Chardonnay race village was buzzing from first light. Despite overcast skies and the threat of rain, spirits remained high, with smiles, cheers and plenty of trail-side gees carrying riders through the day.
In the Elite Women’s race, the top three teams started the day separated by less than a minute after Thursday evening’s Prologue, setting the stage for another fiercely contested battle.
The opening climb out of Lourensford immediately split the field. As she had in the Prologue, reigning Marathon World Champion Anna Weinbeer wasted little time in moving to the front and driving the pace. The Swiss rider in her rainbow stripes looked effortless on the climb but was once again forced to temper her pace and wait for teammate Greete Steinburg, whose form is still returning after illness earlier in the week.
At the front, however, Alexis Skarda appeared determined to dictate the pace. The Efficient Infiniti Scott Shimano rider spent much of the opening kilometres setting the tempo alongside partner Samantha Sanders as the leading teams climbed out of Somerset West.
Behind the front group, the battle for the remaining podium places was already taking shape. e-Fort’s Margot Moschetti and Costanza Fasolis were locked in an early contest with Sarah Mare and Lilian Baber of Efficient Infiniti Insure, while Chloe Bishop and Malena Seer ensured Hollard x 1OF1 remained firmly in the mix.
By the first water point, Efficient Infiniti Insure had a small advantage over e-Fort and the rest of the chasing teams. Up front, meanwhile, Torpado Kenda FSA’s Katazina Sosna and Giorgia Marchet and Efficient Infiniti Scott Shimano continued to match one another move for move.
The stage’s defining moment came on the slopes of Gantouw Pass.
The historic World Heritage Site requires every rider to dismount and either push or carry their bike up the rocky ascent before reaching the Elgin Valley. While physically demanding for all riders, it proved decisive in the elite contest.
Sosna and Marchet (introduction image) danced up the rocky wagon trail with remarkable efficiency, opening nearly a minute’s advantage over Sanders and Skarda. By the summit, the Italian-Lithuanian pairing had seized control of the stage and carried that momentum into the twisting A-Z Trails.
The response from Efficient Infiniti Scott Shimano was immediate. Using their technical skills to full effect on the fast descents and flowing singletrack, Sanders and Skarda clawed their way back kilometre by kilometre until the leading teams were once again locked together with 20 kilometres remaining.
Further back, Maré and Baber continued their strong ride, defending third place from the persistent challenge of Moschetti and Fasolis. Bishop and Seer were also enjoying a standout day, cresting Gantouw Pass in fifth position ahead of Weinbeer and Steinburg, whose fortunes improved as the race wore on.
As the riders swept through the final kilometres towards Oak Valley, it became increasingly clear that the stage victory would once again be decided in a sprint.
Just as they had in the Prologue, Torpado Kenda FSA found an extra gear when it mattered most. Sosna and Marchet edged ahead in the final dash to the line to claim their second sprint victory in as many days and retain their CIOVITA leader jerseys.
Sanders and Skarda secured second place, while Maré and Baber completed an impressive ride to claim third, finishing just under eight minutes back and holding off the charging e-Fort pairing.
Hollard x 1OF1 rounded out the top five, ahead of Weinbeer and Steinburg in sixth.
With the first full stage in the books and two days of racing still to come, the battle for the Chardonnay title remains wide open. Torpado Kenda FSA may have made it two from two, but with Oak Valley’s legendary Play Day waiting on Saturday, the chasing teams will believe there is still everything to race for.
As the sun set over the Oak Valley Race Village, the GEES was in full flow. Hundreds of amateur riders swapped stories from the trails, compared battle scars from Gantouw Pass and settled in for an evening of food, festivities and live entertainment. With the famous Oak Valley Play Day up next, excitement is building for another unforgettable day in the Elgin Valley.
VIEW RESULTS: https://www.epic-series.com/races/wines2whales/results
Source: Epic Series Media
