Liebenberg, Miller the fastest

Cycling
Tielman Van Lill
  • 1 Year Ago 10 October 2022
The Paratus Namibian Cycle Challenge once again proved to be one of the finest mountain bike and racing cycle events in Namibia for the local cycle community.

Early on Saturday morning, avid mountain bike (MTB) cyclists started their attack in various categories and distances at Farm Windhoek in Kleine Kuppe on the hilly and technical IGJ Trails course.

Namibian Olympian and Commonwealth medalist Alex Miller made mincemeat of the 50-kilometre challenge, finishing the elite men’s race in one hour, 54 minutes and one second. His average speed was an astonishing 26.31 km/h.

He was followed by Xavier Papo in second place (2:01:20), with Kaita Simon third in 2:03:24.

Proving their mettle

In the elite women's category, Genevieve Weber took top honors in 2:15:21, out-classing Courtney Liebenberg in second spot with 2:18:02 on the stopwatch, while Monique du Plessis finished third in 2:21:39.

Miller also participated in the 100 km elite road race and came in second in 2:21:31 after the winner Ingram Cuff (2:21:22), with Drikus Coetzee earning the third place in 2:212:33.

In the 100 km elite women's section, Melissa Hinz, Michelle Doman, Liebenberg, Risa Dreyer and Anneke Steenkamp got the same time of 2:41:04 after sprinting in a group over the finish line. Hinz placed first, Doman second, Liebenberg third, Dreyer fourth and Steenkamp fifth.

The times of the riders who took part in both the MTB and road races were added together to find the quickest elite female and male cyclist over the two days of action. Liebenberg and Miller took the titles, proving their mettle.

Other MTB results:

50 km

Elite and open men: 1 Miller, 2 Papo, 3 Simon, 4 Petrus Human (2:04:23), 5 Ethan Lestrange (2:07:15).

Elite and open women: 1 Weber, 2 Liebenberg, 3 Du Plessis, 4 Doman (2:28:49), 5 Nicola Fester (2:29:23).

Junior men: 1 E. Lestrange, 2 Daniel Hahn (2:08:21), 3 Adrian Key (2:09:19).

30 km

Overall men: 1 Roger Suren (1:06:32), 2 Marco Thiel (1:06:34), 3 Oskar Roeber (1:08:35).

Open men: 1 Theuns van der Westhuizen (1:08:48), 2 JG van der Westhuizen (1:10:44), 3 Frank Klosta (1:12:57).

Boys under 16: 1 R. Suren, 2 Thiel, 3 O. Roeber.

Women overall: 1 Delsia Janse van Vuuren (1:16:52), 2 Rosemarie Thiel (1:19:22), 3 Kylie Dickerson (1:29:02).

Open women: 1 Celeste van Tonder (1:32:56), 2 Cindy Rowland (1:33:02), 3 Mimi Hough (1:35:35).

Junior women: 1 D. Janse van Vuuren, 2 K. Dickerson, 3 Angela Kamati (1:43:14).

Girls under 14: 1 R. Thiel.

15 km

Overall men: 1 André Cornelissen (36 minutes 48 seconds), 2 Micah Chase (37:12), 3 Jandré Cornelissen (41:01).

Open men: 1 A. Cornelissen, 2 J. Cornelissen, 3 Melkisedek Haidongo (47:18).

Boys nine to 12 years: 1 M. Chase, 2 Hendrik Baartman (50:16), 3 JP Lambert (50:16).

Women overall: 1 Nicole Suren (42:17), Cari van der Westhuizen (50:23), 3 Jonie Peters (52:10).

Women: 1 J. Peters, 2 Nadine Booysen (55:16), 3 Kerstin Graf (57:50).

Girls nine to 12: N. Suren, 2 C. van der Westhuizen, 3 Lillian Kibble (1:19:12).

Road race results

100 km

Men: 1 Cuff, 2 Miller, 3 Coetzee.

Women: 1 Hinz, 2 Doman, 3 Liebenberg.

Junior men: 1 Kevin Lowe (2:21:45), 2 Adrian Key (2:27:18), 3 Steven de Beer (3:58:28).

60 km

Overall men: 1 Mark Spath (1:40:57), 2 Frank Klosta (1:40:59), 3 Roger Suren (1:40:59).

Overall women: 1 Delsia Janse van Vuuren (1:41:19), 2 Rosemarie Thiel (1:41:26), 3 Monika Grossman (1:41:44).

Junior women: 1 Ada Kahl (1:43:17), 2 Monga Shitambile (2:27:22).

Boys under 16: 1 Roger Suren (1:40:59), Marco Thiel (1:40:59), 3 Nathan Chase (1:41:00).

Girls under 16: 1 D. Janse van Vuuren, R. Thiel, Kylie Dickerson (1:43:56).