Another big weekend on the bike
Mountain biking
The Namibian Cycling Federation’s best talent will once again take on serious international competition this weekend.
Vera Looser and Alex Miller are expected to compete at the UCI Marathon mountain biking World Cup event at Lake Placid in the US state of New York this Sunday.
Both competed at the UCI Marathon world championship in Snowshoe, West Virginia last weekend.
A 104-kilometre course with a gradient of 2,000 metres, the same for men and women, was laid out to determine the new world champions of the discipline.
Miller (22nd) never quite overcame an unfavourable starting position, before also encountering mechanical hold-ups. At the front, Denmark’s Simon Andreassen maintained perfect tactics throughout the race, knew how to manage his strength and save his last cartridge in a final attack that allowed him to cross the finish line in first position.
American Christopher Blevins finished second, 10 seconds behind, with Spaniard David Valero confirming his excellent form with a third place, just two seconds behind Blevins. Andreas Seewald and Victor Koretzky completed the top five.
Among the elite women, Looser finished in seventh place after 5 hours 30 minutes on a technical and physically demanding course.
The star of the women’s race was Austrian Mona Mitterwallner, who at just 22 years old managed to win her third world championship after having also won it in the 2021 and 2023 editions. Switzerland's Sina Frei took the silver medal, crossing the line 26 seconds behind, with South Africa's Candice Lill taking bronze.
Looser later wrote on social media: “A lot of thoughts have gone into finding the reason why the cross-country riders still beat the marathon riders. I think there is a very simple explanation for that. First is always money, and second is the support.
“Most marathon riders in the women’s field have to work a ‘normal’ job to finance their racing. This leads to less time to train and recover. And then, with no team structures, the support in marathon racing usually lies on partners or parents. Whereas the professional teams pitch up with five staff members for two riders.
“But we are not giving up on this battle just yet.
“I want to thank my sponsors for having my back and supporting me where they can. This trip to America would not be possible without my hubby! Konny is currently doing everything for me to try give me a bit of the pro life feeling.”
• Meanwhile, Namibian prospect Monique du Plessis will contest the UCI Road Cycling World Championship’s road race in Zurich, Switzerland, on Saturday. The 21-year-old has spent the last weeks as a member of the UCI development team in various European countries as part of a coaching program.
Vera Looser and Alex Miller are expected to compete at the UCI Marathon mountain biking World Cup event at Lake Placid in the US state of New York this Sunday.
Both competed at the UCI Marathon world championship in Snowshoe, West Virginia last weekend.
A 104-kilometre course with a gradient of 2,000 metres, the same for men and women, was laid out to determine the new world champions of the discipline.
Miller (22nd) never quite overcame an unfavourable starting position, before also encountering mechanical hold-ups. At the front, Denmark’s Simon Andreassen maintained perfect tactics throughout the race, knew how to manage his strength and save his last cartridge in a final attack that allowed him to cross the finish line in first position.
American Christopher Blevins finished second, 10 seconds behind, with Spaniard David Valero confirming his excellent form with a third place, just two seconds behind Blevins. Andreas Seewald and Victor Koretzky completed the top five.
Among the elite women, Looser finished in seventh place after 5 hours 30 minutes on a technical and physically demanding course.
The star of the women’s race was Austrian Mona Mitterwallner, who at just 22 years old managed to win her third world championship after having also won it in the 2021 and 2023 editions. Switzerland's Sina Frei took the silver medal, crossing the line 26 seconds behind, with South Africa's Candice Lill taking bronze.
Looser later wrote on social media: “A lot of thoughts have gone into finding the reason why the cross-country riders still beat the marathon riders. I think there is a very simple explanation for that. First is always money, and second is the support.
“Most marathon riders in the women’s field have to work a ‘normal’ job to finance their racing. This leads to less time to train and recover. And then, with no team structures, the support in marathon racing usually lies on partners or parents. Whereas the professional teams pitch up with five staff members for two riders.
“But we are not giving up on this battle just yet.
“I want to thank my sponsors for having my back and supporting me where they can. This trip to America would not be possible without my hubby! Konny is currently doing everything for me to try give me a bit of the pro life feeling.”
• Meanwhile, Namibian prospect Monique du Plessis will contest the UCI Road Cycling World Championship’s road race in Zurich, Switzerland, on Saturday. The 21-year-old has spent the last weeks as a member of the UCI development team in various European countries as part of a coaching program.
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