The organisers of the Nedbank Namibia Desert Dash have confirmed the competition’s return for the 20th consecutive year.
More than 1 200 mountain bike cyclists are expected to participate in this year’s event, which is scheduled to start on 6 December at Grove Mall in Windhoek.
Riders will cycle 397km across the world’s oldest desert before completing the competition at Swakopmund’s Platz Am Meer Mall on 7 December.
Entry for solo riders and half-solo riders will open on 3 June, for two-person teams and two-person half-dash riders on 10 June, and four-person team entries will open on 17 June.
The four-person team category is the most sought after, with entry slots selling out in seconds.
The organisers have introduced a new, separate age category for cyclists over 50 years old for the solo dash.
Prize money for first, second, and third finishers will be given to both male and female riders in this category.
This year’s race will also introduce the two-person half dash, which has no age restriction, except for a minimum age of 16 on event day.
The 2023 race saw a total of 24 female solo riders participating – 10 from South Africa and seven from Namibia.
The 2023 race had 166 solo male riders – 72 Namibians and 59 South Africans.
Namibia and South Africa provided the bulk of the competitors in the race, which that attracts riders from across the globe.
Entry fees and categories for the 2024 races are as follows: solo riders – N$4 000, two-person team – N$7 000, four-person team – N$14 000, solo half-dash – N$4 000, and two-person team half-dash – N$7 000.
This year, early bird entries will only be available for 80 teams.
Twenty early bird entries (which apply to four-person teams only) will again be open with immediate effect until 31 May.
Cyclists interested in early bird tickets are requested to send an email to raceday@raceday.events
If selected to purchase an early bird ticket, cyclists will be required to make payment within 24 hours.
The total cost for early bird entries is N$21 000, with N$7 000 going towards charity.
“As money experts who do good, we are incredibly proud of hitting the 20-year mark of the longest single-stage cycling event in the world, the Nedbank Desert Dash. It is not just about the race, but fostering community spirit, promoting a healthy lifestyle and providing a platform to see our local and other cyclists thrive.
“With entries about to open, I encourage all cyclists to enter and celebrate 20 years of this amazing race with us,” Selma Kaulinge of Nedbank says.
For more information, visit www.desertdashnamibia.com
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