ONLY the toughest and fittest will be setting out for the word class annual 2013 FNB Mountain bike Desert Dash which takes place on 13th and 14th December, covering a testing night race to Swakopmund over a distance of 369km. Race organiser Aidan de Lange was present to accept the sponsorship to the value of N$ 180 000.
This is the third consecutive year, Pupkewitz Nissan has come on board with a generous sponsorship for the Desert Dash, which includes providing the organisers with five Nissan back-up vehicles, to accompany the 500 local and international cyclists racing down to the coast.
The powerful Nissan Navarra double cab, will be used as the lead vehicle in the race and the Nissan X-trail SUV will be used as the sweep vehicle. Both vehicles are perfect for the long distance traveling, and their purpose will be to ensure all cyclists are safely ahead and pedaling to the finish line. Pupkewitz Nissan also sponsors the Dash with three NP300 single cab workhorses, which will accompany the cyclists as medic back-up wheels for the race.
Pupkewitz Nissan further sponsors three cycling GPS devices for the solo male winner and the solo female winner as well as the 24th rider over Kupferberg where Pupkewitz Nissan will have their hotspot.
The annual FNB Desert Dash – a 24 hour race which will start in Windhoek at 15h00 on the following Friday. Cyclists will follow a route that climbs the Khomas Hochland with temperatures that can soar up to sweltering temperatures, as they cross the arid, rocky terrain of the Namib Desert, as well as endure biting cold conditions as they finishing in Swakopmund against the cold Atlantic Ocean.
When announcing the sponsorship, Louis Langford (DP Pupkewitz) said that Pupkewitz Nissan is delighted to be able to interact with the mountain biking community again, and that given the success of the previous event, they have increased their sponsorship to exceeding N$180 000 this year.
“Pupkewitz Nissan supports an active lifestyle and is proud to be associated with the most grueling mountain bike race in the world,” said Langford at the handover function.”This will be the third consecutive year that Pupkewitz Nissan has sponsored the Desert Dash, which was supported by the later Harold Pupkewitz in 2011, since he was a great believer in an active lifestyle.”
Of the 500 riders that have registered to participate in this year’s edition of the FNB Desert Dash Mountain Bike Challenge, 130 riders will attempt the solo challenge. De Lange has requested motorists to please slow down when approaching the cyclists on the road and drive safely.
Pupkewitz Nissan invites the family and friends of the cyclists to enjoy the prize giving at the Pupkewitz Nissan finish zone in Swakopmund on Saturday afternoon, 14 December 2013 at 16h00.
By Motoring reporter