NamibiaSport

Ananias Ananias rode a great race to win the 100km Namibian Cycle Classic on Sunday morning. Ananias, riding for the Prowealth team, beat team mate Heiko Redecker, Stefan Marggraff and Tjipe Murangi in a sprint to the line to win the 100km event in 2 hours 35 minutes and 34 seconds.



Ananias Ananias

Ananias made an early break from the peleton after about 30km and stretched his lead to more than a kilometre when they reached the Otjomuise road. He continued to set the pace but when the cyclists entered the gruelling Daan Viljoen mountains, the chasing pack started to close in.

Ananias’ team mate Heiko Recker, Stefan Margraff and Tjipe Murangi lead the chase and caught up with Ananias just before the turnaround point at Matchless Mine after about 70km.

Somehow Ananias managed to get a second wind and stayed with the leading group as they sped down the Daan Viljoen hills on the way to the Western Bypass. Although several breakaways were attempted no one could get away and the four cyclists entered the home straight together with Ananias beating the other three by split seconds over the line.

More than 1 200 cyclists participated in the Cycle Classic which took place for the ninth consecutive year in windless and hot conditions. The race started and finished in Frank Fredericks avenue in Olympia, and took a northern route via Robert Mugabe Avenue, though Ludwigsdorf and onto the Western bypass.

At the Elisenheim turnoff the cyclists turned back south on the Monte Christo road before entering Katutura, past the Sam Nujoma Stadium. From there they joined the Otjomuise road and eventually linked up with the Daan Viljoen road, where they had to negotiate several tough ascents, like “Heartbreak Hill” to the turnaround point at Matchless Mine.

From here they sprinted back down the Daan Viljoen hills, to join up with the Western Bypass, going past the Windhoek Country Club and finally finishing at the starting point in Frank Fredericks avenue.

Participants could enter categories ranging from 100km, 65km and 30km to a new addition this year, the 20km category.

The complete results for the 100km and the 65km categories are as follows: