It’s been 40 years since the Nedbank Cycle Challenge first took place as Namibia’s first-ever corporate cycling event.
This year, the historic race returns with a new format for cyclists, further emphasising its evolution from a modest gathering into a significant contributor to the development of cycling in Namibia.
The 2026 event will take place on Sunday, with the kick off at the University of Namibia (Unam).
Dubbed the ‘Greatest Ride Under the Sun’, the race has assumed the mantle for dominance in road cycling participation throughout the past four decades, and cyclists will be taking on 25km, 60km, and 100km distances. They will start in the staggered sequence: 07h00 (100 km), 07h30 (60 km), and 08h00 (25 km).
The challenge introduced new event organisers, LEMA Events, which is the same team responsible for organising the coveted Nedbank Desert Dash. “As the new organisers of the challenge, we take great pride in continuing the legacy of Namibia’s most iconic race. Our focus this year is on ‘elevation’, not just in the terrain, but in the total rider experience. Heymans was the winner in the junior men’s category when the race first saw the light of day in 1986,” said Mannie Heymans from LEMA Events.
He added that they designed fresh, challenging routes that showcase the city’s best landscape and test the race’s competitive elements, while implementing enhanced safety and logistics to ensure every participant enjoys the competition from start to finish.
The riders will start at the Unam sports field and cycle on the Dr Hage Geingob Freeway towards the Hosea Kutako International Airport.
They will make a U-turn at the Dordabis turnoff and head back to the city before turning towards Kupferberg for 15 km. They will then make a U-turn back to finish the race at the Unam Sports Field.
Online entries will close today, via the Pay Today platform on events.today.com.na/events/9.
The cycling competition is open to everyone, from seasoned cyclists to fitness gurus, as well as those who want to ride for fun. Late registration, race briefing, and changes to entries can be done on Saturday, 21 February, between 10h00 – 11h00 at the Unam sports fields for an extra fee of N$150.
This event will see the return of the popular Nedbank Kidz Challenge for the first time this decade, taking place on 21 February. Kiddies Event organiser Charmain Shannon, said they are targeting to register 100 kids on the day, and registration will take place from 09h00 at the venue, with a route mapped around the UNAM campus.
“We want the kids to have fun while cycling at an appropriate venue. We therefore call upon parents to bring their kids as early as 09h00 for registration, with the races taking place between 11h00 and 12h00, she said.” Nedbank Namibia chief operational officer JG van Graan said the challenge is more than just a race; it is a platform for nurturing Namibian talent: We have seen incredible athletes like Dan Craven, Costa Seibeb, Vera Looser, and Alex Miller dominate these local routes before taking the Namibian flag to the world stage, with a number of them creating excellent national pride for our country at the Olympic and Commonwealth Games.
“At Nedbank, we aren’t just sponsoring a sporting event; we are investing in a pipeline of excellence that proves Namibian cyclists can compete with the very best globally,” he said. Van Graan added that the Challenge is a celebration of harmony, which supports eco-friendly mobility while promoting a competitive spirit.
-newsroom@nepc.com.na