Van Staden in third classic win

ONE of Namibia’s most prolific young cyclists, Heletje van Staden, achieved her third overall victory in The Namibian Model Pick ‘n Pay Cycle Classic, which was held in Windhoek yesterday.

Van Staden won her first race in 2002, was beaten by her older sister in 2003, but reclaimed first spot in the 2004 race. Yesterday she won her third victory in the gruelling 100-kilometre race.The Windhoek High School student finished her race in two hours, 43 minutes and 55 seconds.Van Staden beat top contenders Charmaine Shannon (02:43:55) and Johanita de Waal (02:56:14) into second and third spot respectively.She said the overcast weather played a major role in her race, which she considered as relatively easy this year.”I felt good today and the weather was just fantastic,” she said, adding that she was not sure if she would defend her title next year.An unknown, but tough and competitive cyclist, Manus Altman, took the podium as the men’s overall winner in the 100-km race and was followed by Michael Swanepoel in second, while the ever-present Petrus Lotto clinched the third place.Altman came home in two hours, 34 minutes and 41 seconds, while Swanepoel crossed the line in two hours, 35 minutes and 30 seconds.Lotto had a time of two hours, 35 minutes 32 seconds.Van Staden also made her mark in the Tour de Windhoek, which precedes the Cycle Classic, as she was crowned the overall champion of the women’s individual category by finishing her race in a time of seven hours, seven minutes and 22 seconds.Shannon came second in that race, followed by Estelle van Zyl.The Tour de Windhoek, which started on Friday, consists of different stages and culminated with the Cycle Classic.Cycling sensation Jaco Blaauw was the men’s winner of the Tour de Windhoek, with an impressive time of six hours, 44 minutes and 30 seconds in the four stages.He was followed by Jan Hendrik Verdoes (6:44:40) and Michael Swanepoel (6:45:09).In other categories of the Cycle Classic, Johan Liebenberg won the 65 km for men, followed by Tim Schlichting in second, while André Huysamen was third.For the women over the same distance (65 km), Anka Jutta Schiebler took top spot and was closely followed by Angelique Rall in second and Tanya Hoepker in third place.Adrian Vera won the 30 km distance race for women, with Sigrid Bassingthwaighte in second, followed by Ingri Milz in third.Stefan Barnard crossed the finish line first for men over the 30 km route, while Robert Laaser took second spot.Walter Krenz was third.The Namibian Model Pick and Pay Cycle Classic for 2005 attracted more than 1 600 cyclists from as far as Oshakati, Otjiwarongo and Gobabis.Organisers said 1 130 riders finished the race.More photos and results in tomorrow’s edition.Yesterday she won her third victory in the gruelling 100-kilometre race.The Windhoek High School student finished her race in two hours, 43 minutes and 55 seconds.Van Staden beat top contenders Charmaine Shannon (02:43:55) and Johanita de Waal (02:56:14) into second and third spot respectively.She said the overcast weather played a major role in her race, which she considered as relatively easy this year.”I felt good today and the weather was just fantastic,” she said, adding that she was not sure if she would defend her title next year.An unknown, but tough and competitive cyclist, Manus Altman, took the podium as the men’s overall winner in the 100-km race and was followed by Michael Swanepoel in second, while the ever-present Petrus Lotto clinched the third place.Altman came home in two hours, 34 minutes and 41 seconds, while Swanepoel crossed the line in two hours, 35 minutes and 30 seconds.Lotto had a time of two hours, 35 minutes 32 seconds.Van Staden also made her mark in the Tour de Windhoek, which precedes the Cycle Classic, as she was crowned the overall champion of the women’s individual category by finishing her race in a time of seven hours, seven minutes and 22 seconds.Shannon came second in that race, followed by Estelle van Zyl.The Tour de Windhoek, which started on Friday, consists of different stages and culminated with the Cycle Classic.Cycling sensation Jaco Blaauw was the men’s winner of the Tour de Windhoek, with an impressive time of six hours, 44 minutes and 30 seconds in the four stages.He was followed by Jan Hendrik Verdoes (6:44:40) and Michael Swanepoel (6:45:09).In other categories of the Cycle Classic, Johan Liebenberg won the 65 km for men, followed by Tim Schlichting in second, while André Huysamen was third.For the women over the same distance (65 km), Anka Jutta Schiebler took top spot and was closely followed by Angelique Rall in second and Tanya Hoepker in third place.Adrian Vera won the 30 km distance race for women, with Sigrid Bassingthwaighte in second, followed by Ingri Milz in third.Stefan Barnard crossed the finish line first for men over the 30 km route, while Robert Laaser took second spot.Walter Krenz was third.The Namibian Model Pick and Pay Cycle Classic for 2005 attracted more than 1 600 cyclists from as far as Oshakati, Otjiwarongo and Gobabis.Organisers said 1 130 riders finished the race.More photos and results in tomorrow’s edition.