Top cyclists set to battle at Nedbank National Champs

Cycling
The event will feature UCI categories, where cyclists will compete for the honour of wearing the national champion jersey for the remainder of the season.
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  • 3 Hours Ago

The Nedbank Namibian National Road and Time Trial Championships will be held on the A1 Dr Hage Geingob Freeway (Hosea Kutako International Airport road) this weekend in Windhoek.

The two-day cycling competition, scheduled for Friday and Sunday, is expected to draw over 120 cyclists.

It will feature International Cycling Union (UCI) categories, namely elite, under-23 and junior riders, competing for the honour of wearing the national champion jersey on the global stage for the remainder of the 2026 season.

For the individual time trials (ITT) on Friday, the elite and under-23 men will cycle a total distance of 42 kilometres (km), completing three loops of a 14km course from the Ongolo Bridge turnoff and back. The elite and under-23 women will cycle 28km, covering two loops of the same route.

The road race (RR) on Sunday will see the elite and under-23 women cycle 114km, starting from the Dordabis Bridge towards Windhoek up to the Avis Bridge, where they will turn right onto Sam Nujoma Drive.

The riders will then cycle for three kilometres along Sam Nujoma Drive before turning right onto the Trans-Kalahari Corridor B6 road, continuing to the Otjihase road turnoff. From there, they will turn right towards the Finkenstein Bridge.

At the bridge, the route turns left onto the slipway heading east on the Dr Hage Geingob Freeway towards the airport, with the finish on the slipway near the Ongolo Bridge.

The elite and under-23 men will cycle a total distance of 165km, starting from the bridge over the Dr Hage Geingob Freeway near Ongolo Lodge and Camping.

They will then complete a Windhoek loop before turning left onto the slipway heading back towards the city, finishing on the same slipway at the Ongolo Bridge.

 

Elite reigning champions

Last year, elite rider and Olympian Alex Miller retained his national jersey for the second successive year in the elite men’s competition, while Anri Greeff claimed her first national championship title in the elite women’s competition.

Miller and Greeff secured their national titles by winning both the ITT and RR events.

Namibian Cycling Federation (NCF) secretary general Elanor Grassow confirmed that preparations are progressing well, with online registration open until Wednesday at 17:00.

Registration can be completed on www.namevents.com, while number collection will take place on Thursday between 17:00 and 18:00 at the Nedbank Campus ground-floor lobby in Windhoek.

Grassow assured that rider safety will be prioritised, with police escorts in place, and urged road users to be patient during the races.

“The event will be adjudicated by local UCI-accredited commissaires. Police officers and marshals will also assist with officiating and safety,” she said.

On the importance of the national championships, Grassow noted that the event plays a key role in identifying the country’s top cyclists.

“It also recognises their achievements, inspires them to strive for excellence, and motivates the next generation of cyclists,” she said.

 

‘Legacy for nation’s cycling landscape’

Nedbank Namibia chief commercial officer JG van Graan said the bank’s continued support for the championships goes beyond sponsoring a race.

“It is about creating a consistent platform for talent to thrive and encouraging a healthy, active lifestyle for all Namibians. We are proud to be fostering a legacy for the nation’s cycling landscape,” he said.

“As we step into 2026, Nedbank Namibia reflects on the incredible momentum of our cycling community.”

Nedbank Namibia’s long-standing commitment to cycling remains a cornerstone of the sport’s development in the country.

The bank supports a range of cycling events, from the Nedbank Desert Dash to the Nedbank Cycle Challenge and the Windhoek Pedal Power (WPP) Series.

Through this support, Nedbank has helped establish a professional pipeline that allows athletes to progress from club-level racing to representing Namibia at major events such as the Olympic Games and World Championships.

With more than 35 years of involvement, the bank is regarded as a pillar of the local cycling community, supporting both elite competition and grassroots development.