Elite Namibian cyclists are gearing up for the 21st edition of the Nedbank Desert Dash, which is set to take place from 5 to 6 December.
The race, which will cover 401-kilometre (km) across the world’s oldest desert, will start on 5 December at the Grove Mall in Windhoek.
It will finish on Saturday, 6 December, in Swakopmund at the Platz Am Meer Mall.
The single-stage mountain bike race will feature over 1 000 local and international cyclists, who must complete it within 24 hours.
Former solo-men’s category winner Drikus Coetzee said he will be back to compete for the top spot at this year’s event.
“My preparations for this year’s Dash have not been ideal. I have been battling an illness for the past two months, meaning I have been on and off the bike. But I believe I have done enough to compete for a win. The goal is to compete for the top spot despite the strong field of cyclists who are participating,” he said.
This is the 10th time Coetzee will be competing in the Dash, while it will be his fifth solo race, having previously competed in and won the two-person mixed and two-man main competitions as well as the four-man mixed teams.
He noted that winning the dash will be difficult based on the names of cyclists who have registered to partake in this year’s edition.
Former two-time two-person mixed team winner Anri Greef said she was ready for this year’s challenge and was hoping to do better than last year.
“Preparations have gone well. I am going to put up a strong challenge for the top spot. I also want to enjoy the competition,” she said. Greef paid tribute to the organisers for adding innovations like aero bars and solo riders departing earlier than usual.
“I will not be using the aero bars because I am not used to them. I have not trained with them either. However, I am happy that solo riders are starting earlier than the two-person and four-person teams,” she added. One cyclist who is looking forward to this year’s race is a sport journalist Hee Dee Walenga, who says he is excited to be making his debut in the competition.
“I picked up cycling as a hobby a few years back. Now, I want to challenge myself and push my body to see how far it can go. It will also be a big mental challenge. I know it will be difficult, but I expect us to finish within the prescribed time frame,” he said.
He will be cycling in a two-man team with experienced cyclist PJ Amukushu from Cycle Tech under the support of Nedbank Namibia.
Walenga said Amukushu has been guiding him accordingly during training, hence his confidence in finishing the competition. He added that a podium finish will be a bonus.
Looking at the teams, Mannie’s Bike Mecca (MBM) has entered three four-person teams and one solo rider, which includes seasoned cyclist Irene Steyn, who is a former Nedbank Desert Dash elite woman champion. Team principal Mannie Heymans said they are excited and looking forward to this year’s competition.
“Preparations have been going on well like the previous years. There was nothing specific about our preparations. Our main aim is to have fun. If we get a podium place, that would be a bonus,” he said. Another local team, Barloworld Cymot Cycling Team, hopes to make a statement at this year’s event. Team manager Lotto Petrus said preparations have gone well. He added that they hope for a good showing, as they are targeting a top 10 finish for their only solo rider, Ananias Ananias, and a podium finish for their four-man team.
“Preparations have gone well, and we also participated in various local and international competitions. We went to Botswana and Swaziland and finished 12th in the Volta a Angola em Bicicleta, an international cycling tour that took place in Angola from 30 October to 9 November,” he added.
The Volta a Angola em Bicicleta is a 10-stage race. Nedbank Namibia chief commercial officer JG van Graan stressed the deep significance of the event, which is now in its 21st year.
“The Nedbank Desert Dash is so much more than a race. It is the ultimate expression of the human spirit on the Namibian cycling calendar. We watch in awe as each cyclist, whether a seasoned veteran like Irene Steyn or a first-time team rider commits to this extraordinary undertaking,” he said.
“That commitment, the daily discipline, the planning and the resilience to push through the darkness resonates deeply with Nedbank Namibia’s core values. As a bank, we champion the same principles of consistency and determination that are needed to overcome any long-term challenge – be it the 401 km of the desert or the journey to financial fitness.
Our enduring title sponsorship underscores our dedication to empowering excellence and ensuring this beacon of athletic achievement continues to shine brightly for Namibia and the world,” he added.
–lmupetamie@nepc.com.na