Nedbank Rock and Rut returns this weekend
After a month-long break, the Nedbank Rock and Rut XC Series makes a return for the XC2 Race at the IJG Trails in Windhoek on Saturday.According to the Rock and Rut Mountain Bike Club chairperson, Hanso Diehl, preparations are at an advanced stage and they are looking forward to an exciting event.
“We are happy to note that the series is going as strong as ever. We've had some growth in participation, which is not something we can take for granted in a series that has been going on for so many years,” Diehl said.
According to Diehl, the XC1 held earlier this year was a very competitive race with many international competitors, and the XC2 will bring back the fun.
“On the day we will have the relay fun race just after the main action of the day. The fun race was a hit last year. Names of teams are drawn randomly, and the teams cycle against each other in a short course. It's all about socialising and having a laugh,” he explained.
The Nedbank Rock and Rut XC2 races will take place at the IJG Trails at Kleine Kuppe in Windhoek, on a different track – a development that the organisers say will offer the riders fresh challenges and require different strategies at the different areas of the track.
Last year over 70 cyclists participated in the XC2 races, where Simon Kaita and Nicola Fester won the male, female and elite categories.
In the men’s races, Roger Suren was crowned the youth winner and Hugo Hahn emerged victorious in the junior category. In the women’s races, Delsia Jansen van Vuuren came out on top in the u/16 category, together with Nicole Suren, who won in the sub-junior girls’ category.
The next two races in the series will take place at a different venue, which will be announced in due course.
Registration is open and ends today (Thursday, 6 June 2024).