Tour de Windhoek goes international 

Namibia’s premier international cycling event the Tour de Windhoek will have official UCI (International Cycling Federation) status next year when it takes place from 20 to 23 February. 

At yesterday’s launch the vice president of the Namibia Cycling Federation Axel Theissen said that following negotiations with Dr Wagih Azzam, the president of the Confederation of African Cycling (CAC) and the International Cycling Federation (UCI), the NCF has now managed to launch a CAC Women’s Tour in Namibia. 

“The first seed was planted when I met Dr Wagih Azzam in Cairo in 2022. I am very happy and grateful that our federation’s cooperation with the Confederation of African Cycling has grown from strength to strength since then and that we can now proudly launch this international multi-stage CAC Women’s Tour,” he said. 

As part of CAC’s assistance for next year’s tour, they will provide technical assistance, appoint two race commissaires, appoint a technical delegate and provide the CAC jerseys for the overall general classification winners. 

“For the riders and the NCF this will imply that we will live up to international cycling standards, which I am convinced that we will be able to do without any major concerns. The opportunity to learn and witness from international commissaires and technical delegates will be invaluable,” he said. 

“For the CAC Women’s Tour, the cyclists will be able to gain valuable UCI points and race experience. This is especially valuable since the UCI International Road Race Championships will be hosted on the African continent for the first time next year, towards the end of September in Kigali, Rwanda,” he added. 

Pupkewitz Megabuild will once again be the title sponsor for the Tour de Windhoek, while Standard Bank Namibia has come on board as a supporting sponsor, and Pupkewitz Motors will be the mobility sponsor. 

Minister of Sport Agnes Tjongarero commended the NCF for their hard work. 

“Today we celebrate a remarkable milestone – the launch of the Tour de Windhoek Women, which has achieved official UCI and CAC accreditation. This marks Namibia’s first-ever UCI-accredited road race for women, a significant step forward in promoting women’s cycling, not just in our country but across Africa,” she said. 

“I commend the Namibia Cycling Federation for all the hard work it has done to reach this point. Your dedication has not only fostered local talent but has also brought our athletes to the global stage,” she said, adding that cycling had sent the most Namibian athletes to the Paris Olympic Games in Vera Looser and Alex Miller.

“As the Ministry of Sport, Youth and National Service, our goal is to develop sport in Namibia and put our country on the map. The Tour de Windhoek is a prime example of how we can achieve this by creating platforms for our athletes to shine and gain international recognition. I would further like to assure you that the government remains committed to supporting the cycling community. We are here to work alongside you, fostering an environment where our athletes can thrive and achieve their dreams,” she added. 

Tjongarero thanked Pupkewitz Megabuild and Standard Bank Namibia, saying that private sector support was vital for the development of sport, and that the government alone cannot carry the burden of development.

The 2025 Tour de Windhoek will consist of six stages, starting with a 1km prologue on Thursday, 20 February; a road race at Teufel’sschlucht towards Okahandja of about 120km for men and 80km for women on Friday morning, and a 7km hill climb at Harmony Hill on Friday afternoon. 

It continues on Saturday morning with the ‘Queen Stage’ – a road race of about 115km for men and 80km for women, starting and finishing on the Kupferberg Road; and a criterium on Saturday afternoon. The final stage is a road race up to Matchless Mine of 87km for men and 67km for women on Sunday morning.