• Sport

Greeff and Coetzee shine at 2025 Nedbank Cycle Challenge

• 1 Day Ago - 2025-04-14 00:00:00

National road race and time-trial champion Anri Greeff powered to a commanding victory in the women’s 100 km elite race at the 2025 Nedbank Cycle Challenge, marking her first triumph at this prestigious event.
Greeff played to her strength by attacking early on the notorious climb up the Matchless Mine road and showed endurance to maintain her lead all the way to the finish.
“I made it quite hard for them on the climb to Matchless, since the route has long flat parts that does not suit me really well.
“I got away to stretch the gap to about a minute, minute and a half, all the way to the finish,” Greeff shared post-race.
“It was quite sad to miss out when the race was not held last year, but it feels good to finally win this one.”
The 29-year-old Greeff was followed by Errin Mackridge, who in February was crowned South African junior (U18) women's road race champion, in second place, with Melissa Hinz, a two-time Namibian time-trial champion, close behind in third.
The Nedbank Cycle Challenge was cancelled in 2024 after the passing of President Hage Geingob, making Greeff’s first victory especially satisfying. In the 2023 women’s 100 km race, Risa Dreyer won ahead of Belinda van Rhyn and Nicola Fester.
Women’s 100 km top results: 1 Anri Greeff (NAM) 2:47:24. 2 Errin Mackridge (RSA) 2:49:30; 3 Melissa Hinz (NAM) 2:49:31; 4 Rosemarie Thiel (NAM, U18) 2:49:52. 5 Monique du Plessis (NAM, U23) 2:49:53). 6 Delsia Janse van Vuuren (NAM , U18) 2:51:16

Drikus praises Theuns
In the elite men’s 100 km race, the defending champion of 2023, Drikus Coetzee retained his crown in 2:22:39, once again proving his class in high-level road racing.
Coetzee was joined on the podium by his 20-year-old Hollard teammate Theuns van der Westhuizen, who finished second, while Jaques Hanekom, another rising Namibian U23 talent, sprinted to third.
Van der Westhuizen said it was unplanned when he pulled away from the pack after only 12 km to opening up an impressive four-minute gap on the chasers. “But I always knew Drikus would catch up; [even when you lead], he is always coming.”
Coetzee said: “Must say, a huge, huge ride from Theuns today; he was extremely strong. Luckily, we're teammates, so we worked together, and I'm also very fortunate to defend the title. Although I would have loved for Theuns to win his first title, I’m sure that will come very, very soon. You’ll see him on many podiums to come.”
Coetzee, the highly-respected 31-year-old two-time national road race champion and six-time king of the time-trial, said the Hollard team (also including Hanekom and Martin Freyer) rode exceptionally well.
“We came here with a mission to have as many Hollard riders in the top 10. Last year, we had a clean sweep on the podium, so we tried to repeat that today. But yeah, from my side, it was, like the slogan says, ‘The Greatest ride under the Sun’.”
Men’s 100 km top results: 1 Drikus Coetzee (NAM, 2:22:39). 2 Theuns van der Westhuizen (NAM U23, 2:26:31); 3 Jaques Hanekom (NAM U23, 2:28:44). 4 Brandon Plaatjies (NAM, 2:28:43). 5 Roger Surén (NAM U18, 2:29:12). 6 Marco Thiel (NAM U18, 2:29:12). 7 Martin Freyer (NAM) 2:29:12. 8 Christiaan van der Westhuizen (NAM U18, 2:29:13).

60 KM RESULTS
60 km, U16 boys: 1 Mike Baartman (1:22:58); 2 Theodor Janse van Vuuren (1:22:58). 3 Micah Chase (1:22:58).
60 km, men: 1 Franco Thiel (1:23:00), 2 Junior Beukes (1:23:00), 3 Matti Lukaschik (1:23:03).
60 km, U16 girls: 1 Nicole Surén (1:58:29), 2 Joadri De Beer (1:58:29), 3 Anika Hepkema (2:33:11).
60 km female: 1 Jacky Shipena (1:35:31), 2 Nadine Booysen (1:35:32), 3 Nicola Odendaal (1:35:33).
The 2025 Nedbank Cycle Challenge once again delivered thrilling racing, spirited competition, and a display of Namibia’s growing depth in cycling talent. With the return of the full event calendar and strong performances across all categories, the future of local cycling looks as bright than ever.