Windhoek Pedal Power Series set for Sunday

The 2024 Nedbank Namibia Windhoek Power Pedal Series third leg (WPP3) will take place at Matchless Mine outside of Windhoek on Sunday.

Organisers anticipate that between 190 to 220 cyclists will take part in the event, including the country’s top male and female road cyclists.

Windhoek Pedal Power Cycling Club organiser Stephanus Feris says preparations are going well.

“All is set for the event. The route remains the same. Cycling will start at the entrance of Matchless Mine, all the way to the Western Bypass before the cyclists turn at Okapuka bridge, for the elite men, to the service road behind Brakwater to join the Western Bypass again before finishing at the Matchless Mine again,” Feris says.

Last year, Simonis Storm powered by Hollard, won both the men’s and women’s team events. Cymot Racing Team A was second in the men’s event, followed by Mannie Bike Mecca (MBM) in third.

In the women’s event, MBM was second, followed by Cymot Racing Team Ladies Orange.

Last year’s WPP3 individual men’s and women’s race winners, Drikus Coetzee and Anri Krugel, will defend their titles.

Coetzee says he is looking forward to this year’s event as he aims to see how fit he is following his ultra-endurance debacle in Morrocco.

“I am still not where I want to be in terms of my fitness after what happened in Morocco. I am getting there and this race will help me see how far I have progressed,” Coetzee says.

Meanwhile, Krugel says the WWP3 has always been her favourite, as team dynamics always come into play.

“The Matchless Mine race is always competitive and challenging. I am looking forward to the competition. It is always well organised,” Krugel says.

Speaking on the preparations of the race, Nedbank Namibia spokesperson Selma Kaulinge says the excitement is palpable.

“This edition of the Nedbank Windhoek Pedal Power Race Series will be quite interesting after its two-month hiatus. We hope all cyclists are geared up and ready to take on the route in this road race,” says Kaulinge.

“In the same breath, we are also excited for next weekend’s Nedbank Rock and Rut XC1 UCI C1 and Junior XCO race, which will see local and possibly international mountain bike cyclists take on the IJG Trails.

“Our contributions into the development of the Namibian cycling fraternity have enabled our cyclists to excel in both classes of cycling and we are excited to see the showdown in these back-to-back events.”