Olympians Vera Looser and Alexander Miller were yesterday crowned women’s and men’s champions of the 36th edition of the Nedbank Cycle Challenge in Windhoek. 

The event returned this year after it could not be staged last year due to the ongoing novel coronavirus, Covid-19.

This year close to 800 people cycled in various categories and distances of 100km, 60, 30, and 20. 

Looser, who a week earlier won the national road race as well as individual time trial championships, said the competition was tough, but her persistence got her to the finish line of the women’s elite 100km in two hours, 52 minutes and 29 seconds.

“Everyone who competed showed strength and through my persistence, I managed to come out as winner,” she told New Era Sport.

She was closely followed over the finish line by Melissa Hinz (2:52:30) in second place, and Genevieve Weber (2:52:31) in the third position. 

“Heading forward, I would like to qualify for the Commonwealth Games and other races,” said Looser. 

In the men’s elite 100km, Miller finished first in 2:22:15, closely followed by Netherlands’ Abraham Daniel (2:22:16), and fellow Namibian Gerhard Mans third (2:22:43). 

Miller told this publication he was pleased to have won as all participants were trying their best to win top honours. 

“The race was very hard from the beginning. There were so many attacks going on the way, but I managed to overcome it. The weather played a big role, which I think was favourable to me and overall, I am happy with the way things turned out,” he said.

Heading forward, Miller said he looks forward to qualifying for the much-anticipated Pupkewitz Megabuild Tour de Windhoek from 17 to 20 February, as well as qualifying for the Commonwealth Games which start end of July.

- mkambukwe@nepc.com.na