The Nedbank Rock and Rut Mountain Bike Series will see Namibian riders competing with their African counterparts at the IJG Trails in Kleine Kuppe on Saturday.
Over 90 cyclists have thus far registered to compete in a race that will see them accumulate International Cycling Union (UCI) points.
Saturday’s race, which is slated for the rocky, uneven terrain of Farm Windhoek, will see riders compete in categories ranging from Under-12 to Grand Masters. National selectors will select a shortlist of athletes to represent Namibia in Cross Country (XC) at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England in July and August 2022.
A statement availed to Nampa on Thursday by Nedbank Namibia said this weekend’s XC Series will feature international cyclists who will garner UCI points.
“Gaining UCI points is a key determinant for cyclists to compete in international events like the Olympics. The UCI categories for this race are however for Junior and Under-23, and elite cyclists only,” read the statement.
It also stated that round two of the XC cycling series will be a national event that will see the Rock and Rut Mountain Bike Club collaborating with the National Cycling Federation to give competitors a chance to test their technical skills against fellow riders.
This weekend’s race will see international cyclists such as 2017 junior world champion Cameron Wright from Australia, and the 2018 South African XCO Champion, Mariske Strauss, participating.
Elite Namibian athletes such as Alex Miller, Xavier Papo, Hugo Hahn, Kevin Lowe, Monique du Plessis, Courtney Liebenberg and Ada Kahl are some of the ardent cyclists who will take part in the UCI sanctioned races in hopes of accumulating UCI points.
Nedbank Namibia Communications and PR Manager, Selma Kaulinge, also said in the statement that the Nedbank Rock and Rut XC Series helps Namibian cyclists to prepare for world stage competitions.
“With the Africa Continental Mountain Bike Championships taking place in Namibia on 22 and 23 April 2022, this weekend’s race is the perfect opportunity for them to test out the tracks,” she said.
Source: The Namibian Press Agency
