Du Plessis, Freyer win Rock and Rut series opener
Monique du Plessis and Martin Freyer are delighted with their 2025 Nedbank Rock and Rut XC series opening race victories in Windhoek over the weekend.
Freyer led from start to finish to beat Justus Beulker in second and Theuns van der Westhuizen in third in the Nedbank Rock and Rut XC0 race held at the IJG Trails.
Freyer clocked one hour, 18 minutes, and 56 seconds (01:18:56) to win the race after six laps, while Beulker clocked 01:22:06 in second, and van der Westhuizen clocked 01:28:18 in third place.
Speaking after the race, Freyer said he was happy to win, as it was the first cross-country race of the year.
“I felt fantastic having just come back from the Cape Epic in South Africa. I have had many kilometres and races on my legs,” Freyer said of Saturday’s experience.
“It was a bit of a challenge to adjust to this format. We were lucky that today it was sunny and dry. There was one or two puddles, but they did not affect my racing. The conditions were perfect; there were cooler temperatures because of the rain.”
He said the competition was not that difficult because the elite competitors were minimal due to the road race that was scheduled for the following day but noted that more juniors were proving their worth.
“The junior field has many youngsters who are coming up. Some of them overtook me today. They are incredibly fast. I am excited for the UCI cross-country race scheduled for next weekend, where cyclists will be able to pick up international points. I have already seen international cyclists arrive to acclimatise,” he said.
Meanwhile, Du Plessis was the only competitor in the women’s elite race, finishing the race in 01:05:43 to claim pole in the series.
Du Plessis said she was happy to win the Nedbank Rock and Rut XC0 race, even though she was the only elite racer.
She did have the company of the junior women, with Delsia Janse van Vuuren claiming first position in that category with a time of 01:01:43, while Rosemarie Thiel was second in 01:06:04.
“I enjoyed the race. I am excited to see the juniors racing hard and challenging us. They are very strong. I enjoyed the track, which was wet and slippery in some places, and I took a tumble as well.’
Du Plessis said she would be back to compete at the nationals to defend her titles.
One of the organisers of Nedbank Rock and Rut XC Series, Michael Hennes, said: “We’re proud of the cyclists who showed up and gave it their all on the trails. We look forward to welcoming larger numbers as the season progresses.”
Nedbank Namibia spokesperson Selma Kaulinge commended the organisers for their consistency in organising the series.
“Their dedication and hard work continue to elevate the standard of mountain biking in the country. As we look ahead to the Nedbank Rock and Rut XC1 race, which carries UCI international points, we encourage more cyclists to take part,” Kaulinge said.
She said they are in the final preparation stages of the Nedbank Cycle Challenge, which will take place on 13 April – a day after the Nedbank Rock and Rut XC1.
“It’s a fantastic opportunity for Namibia to showcase not only our incredible local talent but also our growing capacity to host events of international calibre.”
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