Coetzee, Greeff cap great cycling weekend  Drikus Coetzee and Anri Greeff capped a great weekend’s cycling by winning the Nedbank Cycle Challenge on Sunday.  It was the 40th anniversary of the iconic race which saw a fine turnout of about 500 riders participating in perfect weather conditions.  In the men’s 100km race, Coetzee’s Hollard team mate Theuns van der Westhuizen broke away early, but Coetzee hauled him in and the two gradually increased their lead to finish well ahead of the chasing pack.  Coetzee went on to take the win in two hours 22 minutes and 29 seconds, finishing just ahead of Van der Westhuizen, while Jacques Hanekom came third just over six minutes behind in 2:28:32.  It was the second successive year that Coetzee had won the title and afterwards thanked Van der Westhuizen for his support.  “Theuns had a huge ride today, he was extremely strong. Luckily we are teammates, and I’m also very fortunate to defend the title. I would have loved to have Theuns winning his first title, but I’m sure that will come very soon and you’ll see him on many podiums to come.” Drikus Coetzee (right) with Theuns van der Westhuizen. Photo: Helge Schütz “I was lucky to defend my title, lucky to have a trustworthy teammate in Theuns, and also the rest of the team rode exceptionally well today. We came here with a mission to have as many as possible Hollard riders in the top ten and hopefully it worked out well because last weekend in the Windhoek Pedal Power race we had a clean sweep on the podium,” he added.  Greeff, by contrast, was a comfortable winner of the elite women’s 100km race in 2:47:24, with the junior South Africdan rider Errin Mackridge coming second in 2:49:30 and Melissa Hinz third in 2:49:32. Greeff said the conditions were quite tough.  “It was very tough, it’s quite hot out there and there was a long long section of flat roads which doesn’t suit me very well. So climbing in the beginning was fun, the flat sections afterwards not so much,” she said.  “This is the first time that I’ve won the Nedbank Challenge – it was quite sad to miss out last year, so it feels good to finally win it,” she added.  The Nedbank Cycle Challenge followed on the Nedbank XC1 UCI Junior MTB Series which took place at the LJG Trials at Farm Windhoek on Saturday.  With international UCI points up for grabs, numerous South African cyclists came up to compete and they took the honours in the elite categories.  Michael Foster won the elite men’s category in 1:22:34, followed by compatriots Ignatius du Preez (1:24:15) and Daniel van der Watt (1:24:22), while Lilian Baber won the elite women’s race in 1:17:49, followed by Namibia’s Greeff (1:18:42) and Monique du Plessis (1:20:02).  Namibian cyclists, however, took the honours in the junior categories, with Roger Suren winning the men’s title in 1:10:46, followed by South Africa’s Samuel Cleary (1:12:28) and Neil van der Vyver (1:13:14), while Delsia Janse van Vuuren won the women’s category in 59:25, followed by compatriot Rosemarie Thiel (1:02:01) and South Africa’s Errin Mackridge (1:03:29).  The post Coetzee, Greeff cap great cycling weekend  appeared first on The Namibian.

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Nedbank Cycle Challenge 2025 set for this weekend The Nedbank Cycle Challenge, dubbed ‘The Greatest Ride Under the Sun’, is set to take place in Windhoek on Sunday. Gerhard Breed from the Windhoek Pedal Power Road Cycling Club and organiser of the Nedbank Cycle Challenge believes another memorable event is in store. This prediction is based on the event growing exponentially over the years. “The progression of the Nedbank Cycle Challenge has been remarkable. Each year, we see new and returning participants take on the challenge with enthusiasm. We are excited to see what 2025 holds and are confident that this will be our best event yet,” Breed says. The race will start at the Nedbank Campus at 07h00 and finish in front of Zoo Park on Independence Avenue. Participants have the option to tackle distances of 20km, 30km, 60km or 100km. Nedbank Namibia’s retail and business banking executive, JG van Graan, says the event has created a trend of living up to expectations. “Nedbank Namibia has been a proud supporter of cycling in Namibia, contributing significantly to the growth and development of the sport. “This year’s event promises to be bigger and better, with meticulous preparations ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience for all participants,” says Van Graan, who reiterated the bank’s commitment to promoting sport in the country. The Nedbank Cycle Challenge 2025 is co-sponsored by Coca Cola Namibia and the Namibian Health Plan. “Our team has worked tirelessly to ensure this event is well organised and memorable for all participants. We believe in the power of sport to bring communities together and inspire healthy lifestyles,” he says. Registration and number collection for the race will take place at the Nedbank Campus, located on the corner of Fidel Castro and Rev Michael Scott streets, from 14h00 to 16h00 on Saturday. Bottom of Form The post Nedbank Cycle Challenge 2025 set for this weekend appeared first on The Namibian.

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Nedbank Cycle Challenge is back The Nedbank Cycle Challenge returns after a year’s break due to the mourning period observed after the passing of former president Hage Geingob in February last year.  The Nedbank Cycle Challenge debuted in 1986 and has since become one of the oldest and most prestigious competitive cycling races in Namibia. In its last edition, the event saw over 750 cyclists participating over the various distances of km, 30km, 60km and 100km.  According to a press relewase issued by Nedbank Namibia, this year’s race is scheduled for Sunday, 13 April, and will feature the same race distance categories. The race will start at 07h00 at Nedbank Campus, on the corner of Fidel Castro and Rev. Michael Scott Street, and conclude in Independence Avenue in front of Zoo Park.  Nedbank Namibia Executive for Retail and Business Banking, JG van Graan said:  ‘We are incredibly proud to go live with this edition of the Nedbank Cycle Challenge – a testament to our long-standing commitment to promoting health, wellness, and community spirit in Namibia. The Nedbank Cycle Challenge not only brings together cyclists from all walks of life but also highlights the beauty and resilience of our nation. We look forward to another event of exciting competition and camaraderie, and we are grateful for the continued support of our co-sponsors, and partners. As money experts who do good, we are fostering a culture of excellence and active living that will benefit generations to come.’ Entries for the 2025 Nedbank Cycle Challenge open on Thursday, 27 March. Cyclists can enter via the PayToday platforms while entries will close on 9 April at 00h00.  Registration for the Nedbank Cycle Challenge will take place on Saturday, 12 April at the Nedbank Campus, where entrants can collect their race numbers for the event. Registration will take place between 14h00 and 16h00.  The post Nedbank Cycle Challenge is back appeared first on The Namibian.

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