NamibiaSport

Mannie Heymans finished 51st at the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships which took place in Val Di Sole, Italy on Sunday.

Heymans completed the 40,7km event a lap behind the winner, Christoph Suaser of Switzerland. Sauser completed the course in 1:58,26, finishing well ahead of compatriots Florian Vogel, who finished second in 2:01,21 and Ralph Nael who finished third in 2:02,46.

Heymans was the first African rider to complete the race which included all the top professional riders from across the world.



Mannie Heymans came 51st at the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships on June 22, 2008.

Heymans’ compatriot Marc Bassingthwaighte was the second African rider across the line, finishing two laps behind the winner in 67th place.
The next best African rider was Ben Melt Swanepoel from South Africa who finished in 72nd position, three laps behind the winner.
A total of 83 cyclists completed the race.

Heymans will represent Namibia at the Beijing Olympic Games in August.
He qualified after finishing third at last year’s All African Mountain Bike Championships behind South Africa’s Burries Stander and Ben Melt Swanepoel.
It will be Heymans’ third Olympics after he previously competed in Sydney in 2000 and Athens in 2004.