06 Dec 2022

The stage is set for the 18th edition of the Nedbank Desert Dash billed for in Windhoek, Namibia December 9-10.

Cycle4Life Cycling Club of Botswana along with other mountain bike (MTB) riders will compete in the iconic one night five-stage MTB race.

Cycly4Life club will be competing as a member of BW Kalahari Warriors team divided into three teams of four-person team.

The name BW Kalahari Warriors was chosen as a representation of the country and to market Botswana as well as the Kalahari Desert.

BW Kalahari Warriors leave today after intense three months of training for the MTB race.

Meanwhile, Embarking on Nedbank Desert Dash self-sponsored, MTB Club’s aim to participate at the competition deemed one of the toughest in Southern Africa, would be to learn and use key takeaways to improve their races locally.

“We are going into this race with keen interest in learning more of logistics of such big race events, registration management, water spots, timing and the general management of the organisation of such big races successfully,” said the team’s spokesperson, Othata Pelotona in an interview.

Pelotona said the experience would help them in organising races better and also share knowledge with other clubs to improve sport management in Botswana, particularly cycling events.

He said their participation at the Nedbank Desert Dash would also give them, as organisers of one of the toughest MTB race in the country, the Dimension Data Route73 race, an opportunity to network and forge partnerships, for its growth.

“We will also use the opportunity to invite international cyclists to the race next year, which will enhance the race’s status not only in the country but regionally,” he added.

Other Botswana riders expected to participate in the Nedbank Desert Dash include Bullets and Butterflies, Rundu Cycling as well as Morabaraba and Gareth Jooste, who would be participating as solo teams.

For her part, Nedbank Namibia managing director, Martha Murorua said there were motivating stories of how and why riders participated in the Nedbank Desert Dash every year. The race will see over 900 cyclists riding the 397km route over 24 hours, departing from Windhoek on December 9, through Khomas Hochland Mountains and Namib Desert and arrive at the coastal town of Swakopmund on December 10.

It will be in three categories featuring solo men and women, two-person as well as four-person teams.

Each team member would do one of the stages from one to four while the entire team would do stage five so to finish the race together.The level of difficulty for the stages will be heightened given that most would be ridden at night.

Stage one covers 98km with an ascent of 1 107m and 1 671m descent, while stage two would see riders embark on a 76km route with ascent of 1 397m and descent of 1 520m.

On one hand, riders would, in stage three, paddle through the Namib Desert for 87km with ascent of 308m and descending at 643m, while stage four would cover 83km with ascent of 286m and 831m descent.

Stages would be relatively easier with sharp climbs and possible sandy patches while in the final stage, riders would fairly have a tough 43km ride ascending at 308m and descending on 462m to the finish, given the level of fatigue endured over night with minimum or no rest. ENDS