Cymot teams dominated the fifth edition of the 2023 Nedbank Namibia Windhoek Pedal Power (WPP) Team Time Trials (TTT) at the Teufelschúlt in Windhoek on Sunday.
The Cymot Orange female team, consisting of Monique du Plessis, Marisa Mouton, Nicola Fester, Jean-Marie Mostert, and Binnet Klein, came in first, ahead of their Cymot Yellow teammates, consisting of Olivia Shililifa, Madison Mann, and Susan Pieters.
Third place was taken by the Food Lovers Market Ladies of Hester Prins, Bertha Theron, and Robyn-Lee Swartz.
In the men’s teams, the Cymot Racing Team of Christiaan van Rensburg, Kevin Lowe, Thenus van der Westhuizen, Hardus Nel, Gino Chiappini, and Kai Prizen took first place, followed by the Cymot B Racing Team of Ethan L’Estrange, Oskar Roeber, Daniel Han, Marco Augustyn, and Fanie Steenkamp.
Third place was won by Food Lovers Market, consisting of Petrus Human, Vernon Maresch, George Thiele, Marc Epler, and Conrad Marais.
In the individual women’s time trials, Handrie Gous came first in 02 hours, 41 minutes, and 40 seconds (2:41:40), followed by Michaela Ham in 2:43:30, and third place was occupied by Marsha Nel in
2:44:00.
In the men’s open individual time trial, Drikus Coetzee won the race in a time of 1:56:58, followed by Men Christo Swartz after 1:56:59, in second place, and third-placed Braam Vermeulen after 1:57:05.
With the final race looming, the Simons Storms currently lead the men’s team rankings with 114 points, followed by Cymot A, who have accumulated 102 points, while third place is NCCS/CYMOT Pro Team with 83 points.
Food Lover’s Market Men’s Team is fourth with 78 points, while Cymot Racing Team Men B is fifth with the same number of points. In the women’s rankings, Simonis Storm Ladies powered by Hollard lead the points table with 52 points, followed by MBM Ladies on 46 points, and third place belongs to MSL Ladies on the same number of points.
The Teufelsschlucht races were attended by an Angolan team, Jair Transporte, which cycled as a guest team and had three Angolan national champions in their five-member team. National Champion Igor Silva said it was a good experience for him to participate in racing competitions in Namibia in one week.
“It was a tough race; the standards are high. The two races I took part in had challenges, but I enjoyed the races nonetheless,” Silva said.
Nedbank Namibia Communication and Public Relations Manager, Selma Kaulinge, said: “It was amazing to see the number of cyclists who showed up at the races on Sunday and the support teams, which facilitated yet another successful event in the Nedbank Windhoek Pedal Power Race Series. We are excited for the final, where we finally crown our 2023 road race champions,” she said.
The final WPP TTT event will take place early in September at a venue yet to be confirmed.