On Sunday, 9 November 2025, the 16th edition of FNB Wines2Whales wrapped up under clear skies on the lawns of Lourensford Wine Estate. Having led the battle for the overall title since 23 kilometres into the first stage, it was fitting that the Honeycomb 226ers were the day’s victors. By winning Stage 3, Marc Pritzen and Felix Stehli wrapped up the general classification in style. Two stage wins and a second place represent a near-perfect three days for the South African/Swiss pairing. Pritzen and Stehli were joined on the Stage 3 podium by PYGA Euro Steel and Buff Megamo. The general classification podium featured the same two teams alongside the Honeycomb 226ers, but with Hans Becking and Wout Alleman in second, ahead of Michael Foster and Jaedon Terlouw.
The trails from Oak Valley Wine Estate to Lourensford Wine Estate were fast, but dusty in places. This would be Marco Joubert’s undoing within sight of the finish line. Earlier in the 63-kilometre-long stage, the Elgin Valley Trails led the teams around the Eikenhof Dam and uphill towards the Gantouw Pass portage. The Rooi Pad trail before the pass had been the pivotal point in the Chardonnay and Pinotage races, where the Liv Sabi-Sabi Seattle Coffee e-FORT and Unbound Uncles teams made their decisive moves. In the Shiraz event, the Honeycomb 226ers controlled the tempo to the portage and then descended fastest to establish a lead they would never relinquish.
Pritzen and Stehli Seal the Deal in Style
“We went into the portage with a group, and by the bottom it was just Marc [Pritzen], Felix [Stehli], and me at the front,” Foster recounted. “I decided to wait on the dual track, where the portage ends, for Jaedon [Terlouw] and we never caught up to the Honeycomb 226es again.”
Once out front on their own, Pritzen and Stehli charged through Vergelegen and Lourensford towards the finish line. Their advantage never grew to over a minute, but PYGA Euro Steel were also never close enough to the men in yellow to regain contact. “Apart from that crash on the finish line yesterday, it was a perfect race,” Stehli smiled, before explaining how they won Stage 3. “Imbuko [ChemChamp] tried early on, but then on the pass we ran as fast as we could, without taking any stupid risks. After that, we just kept going. The trails were quite slippery because of the dust, so we had to focus on staying upright to the finish line.”
“We couldn’t have asked for a better start to a new partnership,” Pritzen added. “It was a dream come true. Winning in yellow is very special. I haven’t done that at FNB Wines2Whales before, so that was a special moment, and getting to celebrate on the finish line here, with Felix [Stehli], is a moment I’ll never forget.”
Podium Shuffles and Category Glory
PYGA Euro Steel were next across the finish line, and moved up in the general classification. Foster and Terlouw may be left ruing their Stage 2 struggles, which put them out of the battle for the overall title, yet a strong final day allowed them to move up into third. “We both had good legs today, and just tried to keep it calm and consistent,” Foster concluded.
Buff Megamo were third on the day, and without meaningfully challenging the Honeycomb 226ers on the trails, claimed the second step on the final podium. Becking and Alleman clearly enjoyed their South African adventure. “I’m super happy we could finish in second here at FNB Wines2Whales and have a good time while doing so,” Becking grinned.
There was drama behind the day’s podium places as Imbuko ChemChamp chased Buff Megamo in the closing kilometres, looking to leapfrog from third to second overall. “Dropping into the last singletrack, we were about 20 seconds behind Buff Megamo,” Jan Withaar explained when asked how Joubert crashed. “Marco [Joubert] opened the taps on the descent, but there was one corner which was quite steep with big breaking bumps, and it was quite dusty. I think he went a bit wide on the corner, then there was a big boulder, and he couldn’t avoid it. I think he probably tucked the front wheel, and he crashed hard. When we got there, it was just dust, and we couldn’t find Marco. When it settled a bit, he was lying right there next to us, upside down with the bike on top of him. When he got up, the first thing he said was that his ‘collarbone is off’. So, ja… that’s really not a nice way to end the race or the season!”
Joubert, like Matt Beers the day before, was taken to Vergelegen Mediclinic for X-rays to determine if his clavicle would require surgery or not. “It’s never nice to see racing incidents cause injuries to any of the FNB Wines2Whales competitors,” Race Director Hendrico Burger said. “On behalf of the event and the Epic Series, I’d like to wish Marco [Joubert] a speedy recovery. We know he and his Imbuko ChemChamp team have big goals for 2026, and speaking for every South African cycling fan, I hope he’ll be back racing in the Epic Series faster than ever next year.”
Withaar and Wessel Botha finished the final stage in fourth, despite stopping to check on Joubert, and were fourth on the final overall standings too. Ignatius du Preez and Lood Goosen also stopped with their Imbuko ChemChamp teammate before completing the final 4 kilometres to secure fifth on the day. A more consistent three days meant that the Insect Science Azimuth combination edged fifth ahead of Imbuko ChemChamp Summerplace. Keagan Bontekoning and Arno du Toit thus joined their teammates in the top five placings.
Beyond the elite men’s race, the Open category was won by Milano-San Remo, Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, and Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne winner Jasper Stuyven. The Lidl Trek star rode alongside Erik Kleinhans, who has twice been crowned FNB Wines2Whales champion, including the inaugural edition in 2009. The Open category victory is Kleinhans’ first in an age category at the Shiraz event, though he has also won a Pinotage race with his business partner, Johan Cronje.
The ACEPAK team of Christoff and Robin van Heerden won the Toyota Mixed Category. Donovan le Cok and Dutoit van den Bergh, of MCC Victus, were crowned NTT Data Masters champions, ahead of Gerrit de Vries and Burger Bester. In the GIC Grand Masters category, Piet Swiegers and Udo Bolts were victorious by just 4 minutes and 52 seconds over Hannes Kotze and Franso Steyn. The Gun + 1 combination claimed the final age-category jersey in the Great Grand Masters competition. Jimmy Mills and Christo van den Heever dominated the Grey CIOVITA jersey race, winning by over 35 minutes.
Jordaan Defends Exxaro Title, Eyes Future Legacy
In the Exxaro jersey competition, Ziandro Jordaan defended his title. The Fairtree DP World Cannondale rider won in 2024 alongside Damon Terblanche and backed it up this year with Kwazikwenkosi Mbhamali. Jordaan and Mbhamali’s nearest rivals were Kusaselihle Ngidi and Ethan Michaels, also from the Stellenbosch-based The Fairtree DP World Cannondale set-up. Citi Change a Life’s Sbonakaliso Msweli and Nhlanhla Mthembu were third in the Exxaro race.
“I’m only 22, so I have 4 more years in the Exxaro competition,” Jordaan said. “I’d like to establish a legacy in the category. There are some legends of the Exxaro jersey, like Philemon Sebona, William Mokgopo, and Jan Montshioa, and I’d like to see my name alongside theirs one day. Kwazikwenkosi [Mbhamali] and I have big plans for the Epic Series in 2026, but I’d also like to follow in Damon [Terblanche]’s footsteps. I grew up with him, and we’re best friends. It’s been inspirational to see him join Pump for Peace and race cross-country in Europe.”
2025 FNB Wines2Whales Shiraz Results:
Elite Men’s Stage 3 Results
- Honeycomb 226ers: Marc Pritzen & Felix Stehli (2:21:26)
- PYGA Euro Steel: Michael Foster & Jeadon Terlouw (2:22:06 | +39)
- Buff Megamo: Hans Becking & Wout Alleman (2:23:15 | +1:49)
- Insect Science: Wessel Botha & Jan Withaar (2:26:27 | +5:00)
- Imbuko ChemChamp Summerplace: Ignatius du Preez & Lood Goosen (2:29:02 | +7:36)
Elite Men’s General Classification after Stage 3:
- Honeycomb 226ers: Marc Pritzen & Felix Stehli (6:55:52)
- Buff Megamo: Hans Becking & Wout Alleman (7:00:30 | +4:38)
- PYGA Euro Steel: Michael Foster & Jeadon Terlouw (7:01:31 | +5:39)
- Insect Science: Wessel Botha & Jan Withaar (7:05:45 | +9:53)
- Insect Science Azimuth: Keagan Bontekoning & Arno du Toit (7:15:28 | +19:36)
