Robisch and Looser make a dash

Swiss rider Konny Looser (29) once again crossed the finish line of the 14th edition of the Nedbank Desert Dash first for a fourth consecutive time. Rebecca Robisch (30) from Germany clinched the women's solo title of the gruelling 373km mountain-bike race from Windhoek to Swakopmund for a third consecutive time. Looser, who finished in a time of 14 hours and 22 minutes, said the third stage of the race was the toughest for him. “Winning is nice but being on the bike was no fun at all. During the first half we raced against a strong wind and I suffered from stomach cramps. I had to fight. A win is a win and I am happy that I could achieve my goal. “I had to be very careful not to over-pace and stayed with the Godwana team to save energy. I am lucky that it worked for me in the end.” He added that the mood and vibe of the race served as motivation for him. “Riding past Kupferberg is quite spectacular with all the fans watching and cheering the riders on. The whole race is simply great.” Asked if he would do the Desert Dash again next year, Looser said he was unsure. Robisch, who finished the race in 17 hours and 17 minutes, said she wanted to give up at one stage but her mother insisted that she continue. A turning point for her was the fact that she caught up with Irene Steyn, who was leading the race in the first half. “This was the hardest race ever for me due to the strong headwind that prevailed in the beginning. I struggled a lot during the first half of the race and thought of giving up. My mom told me to keep going to the next stage. I started feeling better and drafted with the men to preserve some energy for the end.” Robish complimented the organisers on presenting a spectacular race with a familiar feel. “I enjoy returning to Namibia and this particular Desert Dash taught me not to give up and never to stop. I however think that I won't do another Desert Dash.” Drikus Coetzee, who set the pace from the start and was caught by Looser during the second stage, finished as runner-up in the men's solo category in a time of 14 hours and 56 minutes. Jacques Tattersall was third. Irene Steyn finished second in the women's solo category with Ciska van der Byl following in third place. The first four-man team to cross the finish line was Gondwana Masters - Piet Swiegers, Rob Sim, Nico Pfitzenmaier and Corrie Muller - in a time of 14 hours and 22 minutes. They surprised everybody by outpacing the favoured Nedbank Private Wealth team consisting of Tjipe Murangi, Herbert Peters, Alex Miller and Vianney Links, who finished fourth. Hollard finished in second position and Megatech Mannies Bike Mecca in third. R&R Importers won the four-member mixed team category followed by Indongo Toyota in second and Team Hollard third. The two-man team event was won by Team Hollard followed by NCCS and team Cycles4U. The winning two-woman team was Swakopmund Guesthouse, followed by Paratus. Husband and wife Christiaan and Silke Bean of Team Beauty and the Bean won the two-member mixed team event. Team FNB, consisting of Marion Schonecke and Ananias Tamati, finished second. Dalie Maritz and Willie Junius of team Pari Passu came third. Carmen Johannes, Jenny Phal, Nicola Fester and Heide Hobohm of team Speedy Sloths clinched the four-woman team category. Team Epieq Women, consisting of Lelane van Wyk, Lindie Loock, Charmine Grobler and Mayvonne Swart, finished as runners-up. Swart (16), a learner at Pro Ed Academy, was the youngest rider to complete this year's Desert Dash. More than 1 000 riders from 14 different countries participated in the world's longest single-stage mountain-bike race. Completing the Dash is an illustrious achievement all cyclists want tick off their list, commented Gernot de Klerk, the head of marketing and communications at Nedbank. “The Desert Dash is not only a physical challenge but also a mental endurance challenge. There is no easy or quick way to conquer the Dash, and the time in the saddle before the race, as cyclists say, is what makes all the difference. After all the hard work, the rush of tackling the treacherous route is an experience that stays with you forever.” As usual, an electrifying atmosphere prevailed at the starting line at the Grove Mall in Windhoek on Friday at 15:00. Family, friends and cycling enthusiasts welcomed home the weary, but supremely satisfied and proud cyclists at the finish line at Swakopmund's Platz am Meer mall on Saturday. Organiser Mannie Heymans expressed satisfaction with the event and said the new finish line at the mall was warranted due to space constraints at Tiger Reef. Four solo riders, Uwe Diekmann, Gerhard Gulewitz, Patrick Muppertz and Christoph Meier, participated in the Desert Dash to raise funds for the Pro Namibian Children's home. The home caters to 120 orphans and vulnerable children, and is based at Omomas Farm. The riders managed to raise N$750 000 for the home. Solo cyclist Ettienne Soekoe took on the challenge to raise funds for the Insimbi Legacy Projects, a non-profit company raising funds to protect the white rhino. The funds raised are to assist the anti-poaching team in the Bosveld, Speranza and Messina areas in South Africa. The daily protection cost to protect Bosveld, Speranza and Messina is R261. For 365 days the cost is R95 286. The Old Dogs for Wild Dogs, a four-person grandmaster men's team, took on the 373-kilometre challenge to raise funds for the Cheetah Conservation Fund. The team includes Len le Roux, one of the founders of the Desert Dash in 2005, Vincent Shaw, Andreas Brückner and Ecki Fyer. The fund aims to reduce human-wildlife conflict in the Otjozondjupa and Omaheke regions. LEANDREA LOUW

Robisch and Looser make a dash

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Namibian Sun 2024-11-15

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Robisch and Looser make a dash

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Namibian Sun 2024-11-15

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