Tour de Windhoek launched

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The fifth edition of the Tour de Windhoek was officially launched in the capital on Wednesday, with international riders expected to take part in this year’s competition.

The revamped race will be held from 17 to 20 February 2022 and will serve as a platform for local riders to “experience the thrill of professional cycling.”

It is separated into six stages and will this year once again see riders in the male category covering 400 kilometres (km) over the four days, while the women’s category will cover a distance of 210km.

This year the organisers introduced a new category that will see a prologue group sprint over a distance of three kilometres take place to determine the yellow jersey winner, while the final stage of the tour will be held on the Von Bach Dam road at Okahandja.

Speaking to Nampa after the launch, race organiser Leander Borg from Lema Events said this year they have added another route to the challenge as they want riders to have new experiences.

“This year we have created a prologue group sprint which will determine who wins the yellow jersey. The sprint will be held on the first day of the race, just after registration,” said Borg, adding that they are only going to register 150 riders in the solo category for this year, while teams will be limited to 15 per category varying from three to six riders.

Borg noted that the Tour de Windhoek will also see the best riders in the various categories walking away with great prizes, including event jerseys for ‘King of the Mountain’, best sprinter, best young rider as well as the acclaimed Yellow Jersey, which is awarded to the rider that tops the general classification having completed all stages in the shortest time.

Pupkewitz Megabuild is once again the main sponsor, with N.dollars 300 000 availed for the organising of the championships and to be shared by the winners.

Since its return in 2017, South African riders have dominated the tour, but in 2020 Namibian riders Drikus Coetzee and Michelle Vorster won the general classification category. The tour was not held in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency