Namibia’s top elite cyclists, Alex Miller, Drikus Coetzee, and Vera Looser, made headlines this weekend by winning in their respective race categories.
In the elite men’s road race, Miller claimed the title in a photo-finish victory over his main rival and 2023 champion Drikus Coetzee, to claim the 2024 national jersey by split seconds.
The new champion clocked three hours and five minutes (03:05:00) ahead of Coetzee, who clocked 03:05:00 but came in second as he was just micro-seconds
behind.
Third place was taken by Martin Freyer in a time of 03:05:45.
In the women’s category of the road race, Looser dominated the race to win by 02:41:17 to retain her title for the second year running, followed by Melissa Hinz, who clocked 02:43:07 in second place, and third-placed Anri Greeff, who finished the race in 02:45:38.
On Friday, Coetzee won the Nedbank Namibian National Individual Time Trials (ITT) in a time of 50:15, ahead of Ingram Cuff, who clocked 55:09. Only two elite male cyclists participated in this race.
In the women’s ITT competition, Looser once again proved she was the best elite women cyclist by winning the race in a time of 42:28, followed by Hinz, who clocked 43:04 in second, and Greef, who crossed the line in 44:35 for third place.
Speaking after the Sunday race, Looser said she was happy with her performance.
The Namibian Cycling Federation (NCF) was using the two races as qualifying events for the Olympic and All Africa Games qualifying events.
At the Nedbank Namibian National Time Trials and Road Race prize giving ceremony last Sunday, vice president of the NCF Tauko Shilongo announced the team that will represent the country at the 2024 Africa Games in Ghana this March.
They are Kevin Lowe, Martin Freyer, Denzel de Koe, Adrian Key, Monique du Plessis, Olivia Shililifa, Anri Greef, and Jean Mari Mostert.
Nedbank Namibia Communications and Public Relations Manager Selma Kaulinge congratulated the cyclists for winning and for the privilege of representing Namibia in international competitions.
“Last weekend, we witnessed road cycling at its finest. Namibian cyclists, both novices and professionals, came out to showcase their skills in hopes of making history in their disciplines. We selected our national cycling jersey bearers for 2024, and we are excited to see these seven champions in action,” Kaulinge said.
The cyclists, Kevin Lowe, Roger Suren, Delsia Janse van Vuuren, Monique du Plessis, Vera Looser, Alex Miller, and Drikus Coetzee, received Namibian national jerseys that will enable them to represent the country in road race events.