WINDHOEK: The final race of the 2024 Nedbank Rock and Rut XC Mountain Bike Series will take place at a new trail, the Towerbos Trails along the Daan Viljoen Road, on Saturday.

The final race of the Nedbank Rock and Rut XC Mountain Bike Series event of the year will see overall series winners in the various categories confirmed after the race.

A statement availed to Nampa on Thursday by Nedbank quotes Michael Hennes, one of the organisers from the Rock and Rut Mountain Bike Club, saying they are looking forward to the event, with all preparations going well so far.

‘We anticipate 90 to 100 riders for this race. Elite men’s cyclist, Alex Miller, will not be competing as he is currently in France, where he is representing Namibia at the Paris Olympics. We would like to wish him luck. We will have three races on the day, with the first one set to start at 09h00,’ he said.

Hennes added that Mimi Hough is the only elite female rider who stands a chance to win the overall title, while in the men’s elite event, t
here has been close competition between Miller, Martin Freyer, and Kevin Lowe.

‘Currently, Lowe is ahead of Freyer, and those two will battle it out for the 2024 title,’ Hennes said.

The Nedbank Namibia Rock and Rut Mountain Bike Series introduced new venues this year. Farm Bergquell successfully hosted XC3 races, and the Towerbos Trails will host the final series event on Saturday.

The statement also quoted Nedbank Namibia Communications and Public Relations Manager, Selma Kaulinge as saying they are proud to see how cycling has grown in Namibia over the years.

‘Witnessing Vera Looser and Miller take on the best of the best at the Paris Olympics, is a testament that cycling tournaments like the Nedbank Rock and Rut XC Race Series are honing talent specialised enough to represent the country at the biggest sporting congregation in Europe. We are excited for this weekend as we conclude yet another season of the series and can’t wait to crown the winners,’ Kaulinge said.

Source: The Namibia News Agency