Riders in all categories enjoyed the trails and the weather during the Nedbank Rock and Rut XC Series final held at IJG Trails in Kleine Kuppe. Photo Rita Kakelo
Riders in all categories enjoyed the trails and the weather during the Nedbank Rock and Rut XC Series final held at IJG Trails in Kleine Kuppe. Photo Rita Kakelo

XC series ends on a high

Mountain biking
Rita Kakelo
The Nedbank Rock and Rut cross-country series for 2023 concluded on Saturday at the IJG Trails in Kleine Kuppe.

Mountain bikers competed in age groups ranging from under-10, to elite men and women, to veterans and grandmasters.

National champion Alex Miller, on his return from a competitive season in Europe, won the elite men’s six-lap race in a time of one hour, nine minutes and 51 seconds, followed by Hugo Hahn four minutes later in second, Xavier Papo in third and Brendon Plaatjies in fourth.

Nicola Fester won the elite women’s race in 1:02:30, followed by Luanne van der Schyff in second (1:08:170, while the only other elite entry, Anique Schoeman, unfortunately did not finish the race.

Most racers agreed that the weather was actually a plus, because it wasn’t as bitterly cold during the morning as it had been the previous several days.

Jafet Amukushu, the coach for the Physically Active Youth (PAY) team, says he brought his development riders to the scene to assist them in finding inspiration and momentum. He adds PAY is aimed at mentoring youngsters who want to participate in the various sports programmes that they offer training in.

Mimi Hough expressed excitement for the day’s events before her race in the women’s sub-veteran class, in which she finished the three laps in second place behind Jean-Mari Mostert. “The track is thankfully not as technical, but it is still challenging. I am looking forward to racing in this year’s final series,” Hough said.

Overall, the series gave Namibian cyclists a platform to demonstrate their abilities and talents in the Olympic cross-country discipline, to win titles and gain momentum and reputation.

Cody Heigan (U10 boys), Micah Chase (U12 boys), Marco Thiel (U16 boys), Daniel Hahn (u18, junior men), Vernon Maresch (veteran men), Hans du Toit (master men), Rolf Adrian (grandmaster men), Linn Lambert (U10 girls), Delsia van Vuuren (U16 girls), Sonja Obholzer (veteran women), Mandy Huysamen (master women) and Carolin Janik (grandmaster women) were among the notable other category winners on the day.

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