• Cycling

Drikus praises Munga Grit Le Dur organisers

• 3 Days Ago 19 May 2025

Drikus Coetzee overcame a determined challenge from Team Hollard team mates Jaques Hanekom and Martin Freyer during the first half of last weekend’s toughest race on the Namibian mountain biking calendar, the Munga Grit Le Dur.

The eventual 437 kilometres were somewhat shorter than the usual 500 km of the main race, which is in its fourth year as a fundraiser for the charity Legacy of Love.

Coetzee reached the finish line after 16 hours 54 minutes, about 70 minutes ahead of Hanekom and Freyer. The same three riders finished last year’s race in the same sequence.

Coetzee said: “It was great to win the longest mountain bike endurance ride in Namibia, and also to host some of the South African riders here, since it’s more often us that go to compete in their events.

“This year’s route went towards the south and following the rainy season the landscape was even more beautiful. The weather was fantastic – with either no wind, or a slight wind from behind. Maybe some of the riders at the back of the race had

“As organisers, Sybrand and Ronel de Beer went out of their way for another well-organised event. This was the fourth year of the Le Dur, held in the fourth different region, and already I can’t wait to see what next year’s route in the north will entail.

“We are privileged to have experienced routes seldom open to cycling or mountain biking events in the central, western and eastern parts of our country, which serves well to expose the sport in larger regions.

“This year there were many riders challenging themselves for the first time and who completed the full distance. The constant growth in the number of riders was also great to see.

“I did not push myself too hard or too fast and kept my legs as fresh as I could for my next events. Up to the halfway mark the front challengers were keeping me on my toes before I took the gap to break away until the end. All of them rode really well too.”

Coetzee says he is hoping for a quick recovery before departing on Thursday to Oudtshoorn in the Southern Cape for the 36One MTB Challenge starting on Friday afternoon, where he will be chasing his own record time of 13 hours 17 minutes over 361 kilometres.



Women’s winner

Nicola Fester of Namibia was the first woman over the line of the 437 km, in overall eleventh position.

“This was my first time taking part in a really nice and well-organised event, which is also for a great cause.

“The organisers really picked a special part of Namibia, reaching the mountain passes at sunrise or sunset which made the route really spectacular.

“Coming back towards Windhoek left all the climbing towards the end of the race when you’re already tired

“I think this was basically my one big endurance race of the year. For the rest of 2025, I’ll probably consider the Khomas100 (about 160 km) and compete in some cross-country races.

“Next year’s Le Dur in the north also sounds like a great event to compete in.”