Swiss male rider Konny Looser claimed a record seventh solo Nedbank Desert Dash title in nine races when he conquered the 397-kilometre journey through the Namib Desert in a time of 14 hours, 14 minutes, and 17 seconds (14:51:17) in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Looser dominated the 19th edition of the Nedbank Namibia Desert Dash which started on Friday, 8 December at Grove Mall, through the Namib Desert to Swakopmund within a 24-hour cut-off time.
South African Dusty Day finished a distant second (more than two hours behind) with a time of 16:01:35.
Third place went to another South African, Marc Pritzen, who crossed the line in a time of 16:02:10.
In the women’s competition, Belinda van Ryhn won the women’s solo category with a time of 18:47:41, followed by German rider Nina Holtrup, who came in second with a time of 19:13:19.
South African rider Rebecca van Huyssteen was third with a time of 19:50:48.
In the two-man team, the Pyga Euro Steel/King Price team of Alex Miller and Philip Buys won their category and were also the overall winners of the Desert Dash after crossing the line first with a time of 14:20:11.
Team Sterk Span, consisting of Adriaan Myburgh and Nico Sterk, followed closely behind, completing the race in a time of 15:34:55.
Third place was taken by team King Price consisting of Bramm Vermeulen and JG van Graan, who clocked 15:56:29.
The two-women category was won by Anri Kruger and Melissa Hinz of Hollard Ladies, with a time of 17:04:16.
In the four-person team, team Hollard, comprised of Ingrid Cuff, Andre Vermeulen, Clinton Hilfiger, and Gerhard Mans came first in a time of 13:53:29.
Second place was taken by team Cymot, represented by Theuns van der Westhuizen, Kevin Kevin, Casper Kruger, and Christiaan Jense van Rensburg, who clocked 13:54:40.
Third place belonged to NCCS Pro Cycling, who clocked 14:28:14.
The team consisted of Gustav Basson, Gontse Lethokwe, Nolan Hoffman, and Blaine Conrad.
The four-person mixed team category saw Mannie’s Bike Mecca riders Justus Beulker, Delsia Janse van Vuuren, Ada Kahl, and Adrian Key win with a time of 15:46:42.
The two-persons mixed category was won by Micheal Falk and Irene Steyn in a time of 17:35:33, followed by Konrad Marais and Jaen-Marie Mostert, who clocked 17:46:55. Third place was taken by Handrie Gous and Ruhan Gous, who clocked 18:29:13.
Over 1 200 cyclists participated in this year’s event, which saw the introduction of e-bikes and the Half Dash.
Stefan van Doorn and Anri Parker were the winners of the male and female Half Dash competitions, respectively, while Lionie Meyer, Wilmien Chamberlain, Christine Steinfurth, and Mike Swanepoel were the only participants in the e-bike categories.
- jrnmarko@gmail.com