Hot cycling this weekend
The 2024 Nedbank National Individual Time Trial Championships (ITT) and the Nedbank National Road Race Championships take place on Friday and Sunday in the capital, with more than 180 cyclists expected to participate.This year both the ITT and road races will be hosted on the new road to Rehoboth, since this location is ideal for rider safety and a convenient start/finish area.
The president of the Namibian Cycling Federation, Axel Theissen reports that these are some of the most crucial road races on the Namibian calendar, as they form part of the Olympic and All Africa Games qualifying events.
“All security measures have been planned (as far as possible) and the City Police are involved. Our commissaries will also ensure that the races are held in terms of the UCI rules and regulations,” he said.
The entry fee for both events is N$180 (17 years and older) and N$60 (16 years and younger).
The ITT race features elite women and men, both men and women u/23, u/16 boys and girls, u/14 boys, junior men and women, sub-veterans, veterans and masters and grandmasters.
Elite and u/23 men cycle 36 km, while elite and u/23 women will cover 27 km. The junior men, junior men, sub vet men and ladies, vet men and ladies, master men and ladies, grandmaster men and ladies, u/16 boys and girls, and u/14 boys will cycle 18 km, while the u/12 boys, u/14 girls, u/10 boys, u/12 girls, and u/10 girls will cycle 9km.
Starting point
The Nedbank National Road Race Championships starts on the A1 road under the bridge to the B1 on the way to Rehoboth. This race will be used as a selection race for Namibia’s Paris 2024 Olympic representative. The race kicks off at 06:30 on Sunday and the registration fees are the same as for the ITT.
The elite and u/23 men will cycle 122 km, while the junior men, sub-veteran men, veteran men, grandmaster men, sub-veteran women, veteran women, the elite, and u/23 women will cycle 62 km.
The u/14 boys, u/16 girls, master ladies, and grandmaster ladies will cycle 32 km.
“It feels great to be back for the first national cycling race of the year,” Nedbank’s Selma Kaulinge said. “These races are impeccably organised by the Namibian Cycling Federation, and we are excited to see our cyclists make Namibian history.”
Last year’s men's ITT winner, Drikus Coetzee, said he was looking forward to this year’s event, and he aims to defend his title. “The ITT is my go-to race as it allows me to race freely. I am looking forward to winning the race again, as it is my strongest cycling race. Last year, the competition was stiff, and I expect nothing less this year.”
Both elite men and women are expected to battle it out for the national titles during the races. The male and female categories, besides the elite group, include u/23s, sub-veteran, veteran, master, and grand master categories, as well as the junior group categories from u/10 level and up. The distances for the road race range from 14 km for the u/10s to 150 km for the most experienced riders.
The prize giving takes place on Sunday at the Nedbank Namibia Campus, Sky Garden, 7th Floor, 14:00.