Windhoek: Namibian cyclist Vera Looser finished 26th at the 2026 Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) Mountain Bike Marathon World Championships in Primiero San Martino di Castrozza, Italy, on Saturday. The challenging elite men's and women's races took riders through a 95-kilometre course with approximately 4,000 metres of climbing, testing their endurance and skill.

According to Namibia Press Agency, the race course's first significant challenge was at the category-one Col dei Cistri, which ascends to 1,550 metres above sea level. The event started and concluded in Fiera di Primiero, with over 60 riders participating in the women's elite race. However, only 49 riders managed to complete the demanding course.

Switzerland's Anna Weinbeer emerged victorious in the women's elite category, finishing the race in 5 hours, 30 minutes, and 54 seconds. Vera Looser, representing Namibia, crossed the finish line in 6 hours, 23 minutes, and 6 seconds, securing 26th place and earning 56 UCI points. Notably, she was the only African rider in the women's elite World Championship race.

Reflecting on her performance, Looser shared on social media that the race was a long day in the saddle, and she acknowledged that her endurance was challenged, particularly in the later stages. "I kind of felt OK until four hours into the race, but then my lack of endurance decided to appear, and it was a long and slow 30 kilometres to the finish line, which took me over two hours, P.26 at the end. But let's take the good out of this... I am hungry for more," she said.