Cyclists chase Olympic spots in Rwanda

NAMIBIA’S top cyclists will look to qualify for next year’s Olympic Games with a positive showing at the African MTB Continental Championships starting in Rwanda next week.

The event, which will run from 5 to10 May, presents the only opportunity for Namibia’s riders to qualify for the mountain biking discipline at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Namibia will be represented by Heiko Redecker and Xavier Papo in the elite men’s category, Michael Pretorius and Martin Freyer in the U-23 men’s contest, Michelle Forster in the women’s elite race, while Tristan de Lange and Brandon Plaatjies will compete in the junior men’s event.

The team’s chances of making the grade are relatively fair, given the quality and experience in their ranks.

Elite category rider Redecker is blessed with skilled cycling prowess and high endurance levels, which has benefited him well in the highly competitive South African and international circuit in recent times.

Fellow elite cyclist Papo is a gifted development rider who has pushed himself into selection for the continental competition.

Meanwhile Freyer, who currently trains in Europe, and Pretorius have proven themselves as capable riders with several podium finishes on the local scene. They will be in the same race as the elite riders but will be judged as U-23 competitors. Having finished fourth in a recent South African race, Vorster will be up against familiar rivals in what will be a tough women’s elite outing in Rwanda.

But she has immensely fine-tuned her durability and technical set to a level where she is a threat to the favourites.

Junior cyclists Plaatjies and De Lange have had a stellar 2015 so far and will be hoping to take that momentum into the African Championships.

De Lange finished fourth at the championships last year, narrowly missing out on a podium place and will be looking to show that he has grown and improved his skill set.

For the fast-improving Plaatjies, he will look to give his all in what will be a first international competition of this magnitude.

The team will leave for Rwanda on Sunday and return on 12 May.

They will be accompanied by manager Adian de Lange, coach Hans du Toit and NCF president Mannie Heymans.

Participation in the continental competition has been made possible by Nedbank Namibia, who sponsored the Namibia Cycling Federation with N$100 000 towards the expenses of the team.