Mans, Weber win Gravel & Dirt

While the first Hollard Gravel & Dirt race came to an end over the weekend, riders and fans still have seven other races to look forward to this year. Each race exposes riders to a different part of Namibia’s scenic nature destinations.
Cindy Van Wyk
Limba Mupetami







The first race in the 2022 Gravel & Dirt mountain bike series powered by Hollard was won by Gerhard Mans and Genevieve Weber at Lake Oanob on Saturday.

Mans described his 80-kilometre race as a great one.

The competition kicked off at 08:00 with relatively cool weather, which eventually got warmer.

“I just wanted to make sure that I kept the first and second position. I really enjoyed the course; it was a great race but the pace was high. On the second lap it become a bit hotter, but it was a great race,” he said.

Mans finished the race in a time of two hours and 33 minutes, and was followed in second by Brandon Plaatjies in 02:34:02.

Plaatjies said it was a pretty intense race. Along with Mans, he controlled the pace and tempo of the race throughout the competition.

Xavier Papo took the third spot in 02:35:12, and had to work extremely hard in the second lap to catch up with the leading three as he dropped to about sixth place in the first lap.

“It was a tough race, with some of the best riders. I had to work hard to catch up and to beat Danzyl de Koe at the finish line,” he said.

Weber dominates

In the women’s race, Weber dominated, winning the race in 03:01:44. She was followed in second by Michelle Doman and Marion Schonecke in third.

The champ said she doesn’t have a fixed cycling plan, but rather decides which races to compete in depending on how her body feels.

There are still seven races under the Hollard brand for the year. Each race exposes riders to a different part of Namibia’s scenic nature destinations.

For the X-Ride, participants have the choice to enter for the marathon route.

Other Gravel & Dirt Series dates:

16 April: West Coast MTB & Run - Swakopmund

14 May: Otjiwa Eagle Ride MTB & Run - Otjiwa Lodge, Otjiwarongo

4 June: Okajo MTB & Run - Wilhelmstal, Okajo Lodge

25 June: Okapuka MTB & Run - Okapuka Lodge

16 July: Erongo MTB & Run - Omaruru

6 August: Auas Safari Lodge MTB & Run - Auas Safari Lodge

17 September: Hosea Kutako MTB & Run - Hosea Kutako, Windhoek.

According to the organisers, riders need to participate in a minimum of four events to qualify for the year-end series awards and the additional prize money on offer.

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