Hesron Kapanga 

OKAHANDJA – Namibia’s elite male cyclist Alex Miller and junior female rider Delsia Janse van Vuuren dominated the male and female categories of the 2024 Nedbank Rock and Rut Cross Country (XC) Series on Saturday.

Round three of the 2024 Nedbank Rock and Rut Cross Country (XC) took place at the new venue Farm Bergquell, located 15 kilometres outside Okahandja in the Otjozondjupa region. The event drew around 100 riders competing in both the men’s and women’s categories.

In the men’s elite category, Namibia’s representative at the 2024 Olympic Games in the Mountain Bike event, Miller, once again demonstrated his dominance in both the Elite and Under-23 (U23) men’s categories.

Miller, in good form on the day, completed the 27-kilometre race, which consisted of a 4.6 km loop that had to be completed six times, in one hour, 21 minutes and 55 seconds (01:21:55).

He was closely followed by U23 rider Kevin Lowe, who finished a minute and five seconds behind with a time of 01:22:50. Martin Freyer secured third position, four minutes behind Miller, completing his six loops in a time of 01:25:50.

In the women’s category, U18 rider Van Vuuren dominated her field, outshining the elite riders as she completed the four loops over two minutes ahead of the, Elite rider Jean-Marie Mostert.

Van Vuuren completed her race in 01:11:17, and was crowned the overall winner of the women’s category. Meanwhile, Mostert won the Elite women’s category, coming in second with a time of 01:13:49, ahead of Mimi Hough, who placed second in the Elite category with a time of 01:25:45.

In an interview with Nampa after the race, Miller said he had been training hard, and that winning this race was good preparation for his upcoming competition.

“The new route was really nice, despite having several climbs that made it technical and enjoyable. I’m excited for the upcoming Olympics. After spending some time in Europe, I came back home to train in our lovely weather. I’m grateful to everyone who makes these races happen,” he said.

Meanwhile, Van Vuuren told this agency that competing on the new mountain bike loops was exciting, and she is happy to be crowned the overall winner.

“The track was very technical, but enjoyable at the same time. I really enjoyed the climbing aspect of the race as it added a new dimension. It also required me to be very cautious of the rocks and the route, which was mostly a single loop, making it difficult to overtake,” she said. -Nampa