Windhoek: Drikus Coetzee and Nina Holtrup were on Saturday crowned champions of the 2025 Nedbank Desert Dash after finishing first in their respective solo categories in the gruelling annual race.
According to Namibia Press Agency, the 21st edition of the iconic endurance event set off from the Grove Mall in Windhoek and concluded at Platz Am Meer in Swakopmund, with more than 1,000 cyclists from across the globe taking on what is widely regarded as the world's longest single-stage mountain bike race, a punishing 24-hour, 401-kilometre journey across the ancient Namib Desert.
Coetzee, riding for Hollard-Davin Trust driven by Indongo Toyota, delivered a commanding performance to secure his second Desert Dash title. The Namibian star completed the race in 14:13:32, finishing more than half an hour ahead of his rivals. Jacques Hanekom of Hollard Hearts placed second in 15:47:43, closely followed by Martin Freyer, who finished in 15:47:45.
In the women's solo category, Swakopmund-based Holtrup clinched top honours in 17:00:04, ahead of fellow Hollard-sponsored athlete Anri Greef, who clocked 17:08:22. Yolande de Villiers of Team Benthin African Agencies secured third place in 17:33:11.
The two-person ladies' category was won by Michelle Domain and Marissa Mouton of Food Lovers Market, who crossed the finish line in 17:21:02. OneAfrica Radio Waves Desert Blooms, made up of Marcelle Eloff and Jacky Shipena, finished second in 18:58:06, while Dash Daisies riders Tersja Oberholzer and Rizta Fouch© placed third with a time of 19:45:03.
In the two-person men's category, Team Hollard Life duo Danzel de Koe and Andr© Vermeulen took victory in 15:08:22. Team Insect Science Sterk Span of Allan Britnell and Alan Gordon finished second in 15:08:50, with Cymot Racing's Murray Koch and Marcel Henle third in 15:22:19.
The two-person mixed category title went to Namibian cyclist JP du Toit and his South African teammate Darien du Toit, who completed the race in 17:35:25. Eddie and Ronja King secured second place in 18:04:49, while Vicky Dan and Maruen Kleopas finished third in 19:30:47.
The four-person men's category was dominated by the Cymot Racing Team, comprising Daniel van der Walt, Blaine Kieck, Marco Thiel and Herman Fourie, who posted an impressive winning time of 12:56:27. The Hollard Men's Elite Team, Theuns van der Westhuizen, Ingram Cuff, Andrian Key and Roger Suren, finished second in 12:58:35, while Team Mannies Bike Mekka (MBM), featuring Xavia Papo, Christian van der Westhuizen, Nathan Chase and Daniel Abraham, secured third place in 13:01:08.
In the four-person women's category, the MBM Ladies team of Jeanine Heunis, Monika Szczepan-Kruger, Luanne van der Schyff, and Genevieve Weber won in 16:16:08. The four-person mixed category was won by the MBM squad of Delsia Janse van Vuuren, Mike Baartman, Theodor Janse van Vuuren, and Errin Mackridge, who completed the challenging course in 15:22:53.