WINDHOEK – KIA Elite riders, Martin Freyer and Michael Pretorius, have continued to excel in local cycling, as the pair clinched the second and third place in the men’s category of the road race of the Nedbank Cycle Challenge over 100km last Sunday, respectively. The first place went to Costa Seibeb, who seems to be in a class of his own lately.
Their exceptional ride is the latest success in a string of top performances since the start of the year. These include overall wins in the U/23 division of the national and the marathon mountain bike national championships. Freyer finished the 100km long race in a time of 2:24:59.71, some 17 seconds behind Seibeb (2:24:42.89). Pretorius clocked in at 2:25:00.09.
Another standout performance came from KIA Elite newest member Brandon Plaatjes.
The U/18 rider finished in fifth place, less than a second (2:25:01.15) behind teammate Pretorius.
Team strategy paid off when the Verdoes brothers and Heinrich Kohne, also Team KIA Elite members did a superb job during the first half of the race by doing the hard work to save energy for the trio of Freyer, Pretorius and Plaatjes securing three out of the top five positions on the podium.
Together the KIA Elite riders won the team category with Team MBM Elite in second place ahead of Team Food Lovers Market 2.
Meanwhile, Michelle Vorster stormed to another win. The marathon mountain bike ladies champion won the 100km ladies race in 2:31:01.26. Irene Steyn (2:32:51.38) and Wanda Tattersall (2:37:54.98) had to settle for second and third place, respectively.
Results Overview:
Men 100km overall:
1. Costa Seibeb 2:24:42.89
2. Martin Freyer 2:24:59.71
3. Michael Pretorius 2:25:00.09
Women 100km overall:
1. Michelle Vorster 2:31:01.26
2. Irene Steyn 2:32:51.38
3. Genevieve Weber 2:37:54.98
Men 75km overall:
1. George Hamukwaya 1:42:58.38
2. Victor Krohne 1:42:59.05
3. Marckernzy Eiseb 1:43:00.37
Women 75km overall:
1. Mandy Huysamen 1:44:07.55
2. Maike Bochert 1:46:07.03
3. Steffanie Grossmann 1:46:11.84
Men 35km overall:
1. Shapange Afrikaner 1:01:44.21
2. Ananias Uushona 1:01:45.81
3. William Boshoff 1:01:48.66
Women 35km overall:
1. Hildie du Toit 1:05:22.89
2. Anneke Steenkamp 1:07:16.97
3. Christine Steinfurth 1:08:41.03
Men 20km overall:
1. Marius Wessels 0:48:34.89
2. Nicholis du Plessis 0:50:58.45
3. Ulrich Mackensen 0:51:45.21
Women 20km overall:
1. Connie-Marlene Theyse 0:51:20.40
2. Monique du Plessis 0:54:24.73
3. Jessica Hoeksema 0:54:45.64