Ananias, riding for the Prowealth team, beat team mate Heiko Redecker, Stefan Marggraff and Tjipe Murangi in a sprint to the line to win the 100-km event in 2 hours 35 minutes, 34 seconds.

In the 100 km for women, Heletje van Staden was told to keep the floating trophy as she has now won it for the third time.

Van Staden ended 30th overall and clocked 2 hours and 49 minutes, 25 seconds followed by Vera Adrian who made it home in 2 hours and 53 minutes, 48 seconds.

Seasoned triathlete Charmaine Shannon took third spot in a time of 2 hours and 58 minutes, 44 seconds.

Ananias made an early break from the peloton after about 30 km and stretched his lead to more than a kilometre when they reached the Otjomuise road.

He continued to set the pace but when the cyclists entered the gruelling Daan Viljoen mountains, the chasing pack started to close in.

Ananias' team mate Heiko Recker, Stefan Margraff and Tjipe Murangi lead the chase and caught up with Ananias just before the turnaround point at Matchless Mine after about 70 km.

Somehow, Ananias managed to get a second wind and stayed with the leading group as they sped down the Daan Viljoen hills on the way to the Western Bypass.

Although several breakaways were attempted, no one could get away and the four cyclists entered the home straight together with Ananias beating the other three by split seconds over the line.

More than 1 200 cyclists participated in the Cycle Classic which took place for the ninth consecutive year in windless and hot conditions.

The race started and finished in Frank Fredericks Avenue in Olympia, and took a northern route via Robert Mugabe Avenue, though Ludwigsdorf and onto the Western bypass.

At the Elisenheim turnoff the cyclists turned back south on the Monte Christo road before entering Katutura, past the Sam Nujoma Stadium.

From there they joined the Otjomuise road and eventually linked up with the Daan Viljoen road, where they had to negotiate several tough ascents, like 'Heartbreak Hill' to the turnaround point at Matchless Mine.

From here they sprinted back down the Daan Viljoen hills, to join up with the Western Bypass, going past the Windhoek Country Club and finally finishing at the starting point in Frank Fredericks avenue.

Participants could enter categories ranging from 100 km, 65 km and 30 km to a new addition this year, the 20 km category.

- www.namibiasport.com.na

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