Entries for Namibia’s most gruelling mountain bike ride, the Nedbank Desert Dash, open on Monday.

This year Nedbank will be sponsoring the Desert Dash for the eighth year in a row and cyclists will once again take centre stage in the longest single-stage mountain bike race in the world on 09 and 10 December 2022.

A statement availed to Nampa on Friday quoted Nedbank Namibia’s Head of Marketing and Communications, Gernot de Klerk as saying that since acquiring the ownership status of the race, Nedbank Namibia has invested well over N.dollars 9 million.

“The Nedbank Desert Dash is an iconic event and considered by many, who have either completed the race or intend to tackle it, as a bucket-list challenge. It also is the icing on the cake of Nedbank Namibia’s complete cycling portfolio,” he said.

De Klerk added that the real value, however, is unlocked through the ancillary services that Dash participation has always enabled.

“Servicing of bicycles to ensure that the equipment for the arduous race is in tip-top shape, hiring back-up vehicles for support drivers, sustenance and support for the participants along the 393-km-long route, flights and accommodation for international riders are all elements that contribute to the legacy of the event,” De Klerk said.

He also stated that the challenges of organising such a mega event are plentiful, but their organising teams have done an amazing job year on year to ensure the race is hosted as safely as possible.

Entries to the 2022 edition of the Nedbank Desert Dash open on 06 June 2022 with the solo rider category, while the two-person teams’ (women, men and mixed) registration will commence on 13 June and the four-person team registration will open on 20 June 2022, all at 10h00 Namibian time.

The 2021 Nedbank Desert Dash attracted cyclists from Namibia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Botswana, Germany, Portugal, the United States of America and Switzerland.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency