Miller and Krugel win final race of Nedbank Series

Namibia’s 2022 Commonwealth Games representatives, Alex Miller and Anri Krugel, were on Sunday crowned winners of the last race in the 2023 Nedbank Windhoek Pedal Power Race Series held at Aus Mountains, outside Windhoek. 

Miller, who was riding for MBM Men, beat Drikus Coetzee in the elite men’s category after a sprint to the line, finishing in a time of 2:47:43, while Coetzee, whose chain unhooked during the sprint, finished one second behind in second place. 

The two had rode neck and neck throughout the race, at one point creating a 10-minute gap between themselves and the chasing peloton. Clinton Hilfiker eventually finished third, nearly 12 minutes behind in a time 2:57:29.

In the elite women’s race, Krugel, who raced for Simonis Storm Ladies powered by Hollard, beat her team mate Mellisa Hinz in a sprint to the line to finish in a time of 2:42:39, with Hinz finishing one second behind.

Monique du Plessis finished third, a further second behind in 2:42:41, after beating Risa Dreyer in a sprint to the line.

Speaking after the race, Miller said he enjoyed the race as Coetzee and himself worked well together on the day.

“When we were racing on the Daan Viljoen Road, we decided to increase the tempo, which saw other riders falling behind. This was good training, which I enjoyed today. I am currently looking forward to other competitions internationally this year,” he said.

Coetzee said that he is busy preparing himself for one of the toughest races on earth, the Munga, and competing in the last race of the Nedbank WPP Race Series was good preparation.

“Today we had a great race, and the route was enjoyable as Alex and I kept on changing roles of who attacks throughout the race, which worked for us as we created a good gap between ourselves and the chasing pack, but unfortunately my chain fell off during the sprint, and I could not race him to the finish line,” he said.