Top cyclists set to battle at Nedbank Namibian National Championships

3 February 2026

The 2026 Nedbank Namibian National Road and Time Trial Championships will take place on 6 and 8 February, in Windhoek.

The two-day cycling competition will take place on the new A1 Dr Hage Geingob Freeway (Hosea Kutako International Airport Road), with potentially over 120 cyclists participating. The competition will see International Cycling Union (UCI) categories namely, elite, under-23, and junior riders, competing for the honour of wearing the Namibia national champion jersey on the global stage for the remainder of the 2026 season.

For the individual time trials (ITT) on 6 February, the elite and under-23 men will cycle a total distance of 42 kilometres (km), making three loops of the 14 km distance from Ongolo Bridge turnoff and back.

The elite and under-23 women will cycle 28km (two loops).

For the road race (RR) on 8 February, the elite and U23 women will cycle 114 km from the Dordabis bridge towards Windhoek until the Avis Bridge, where they will turn right onto Sam Nujoma Drive. The riders will ride for three km along Sam Nujoma Drive before turning right onto the Trans-Kalahari Corridor B6 until the Otjihase road turnoff, where they will turn right towards the Finkenstein bridge. At the bridge, they turn left onto the slipway heading east on Dr Hage Geingob Freeway towards the airport to finish the race on the slipway up to the Ongolo bridge.

The elite and U23 men will cycle 165 km from the bridge over Dr Hage Geingob Freeway, which leads to the Ongolo lodge and campsite. Before turning left onto the slipway going towards the city, to complete a Windhoek loop before finishing on the same slipway at the Ongolo bridge.

Last year, Olympic participant and elite rider, Alex Miller, retained his national jersey for the second successive year in the elite men's competition, while Anri Greef claimed her first national championship victory in the elite women’s competition.

Miller and Greef won their national titles by winning both the ITT and RR after dominating the two events.

General Secretary of the Namibian Cycling Federation, Elanor Grassow, said preparations are going well, with online registration ongoing until Wednesday, 4 February 2026, at 17:00.

Registration can be done on www.namevents.com, and number collection will be done on Thursday, 5 February 2026, between 17:00 and 18:00 at the Nedbank Campus Ground Floor Lobby: ‘We are on track with our preparations, and we expect over 120 cyclists to register and participate in this event. We will make sure that the safety of riders is taken care of with the help of a police escort, and we urge road users to be patient with the riders during the race.’

Grassow added that the race will be adjudicated by local UCI accredited commissaires, while the police and the marshals will add to the officiating of the race.

On the importance of the national championships, Grassow said these competitions not only help to determine the best cyclists within the country but also recognise their achievements, inspire them to strive for excellence, and inspire the next generation of cyclists.

Nedbank Namibia’s Chief Commercial Officer, JG van Graan, said that, as money experts who do good in communities they operate in, the bank’s continued support for these championships is more than just supporting a race: ‘It’s about creating a consistent platform for talent to thrive and encouraging a healthy, active lifestyle for all Namibians. We are proud to be fostering a legacy for the nation’s cycling landscape.  As we step into 2026, Nedbank Namibia reflects on the incredible momentum of our cycling community.’

Nedbank Namibia's commitment to the growth of cycling in Namibia is a long-standing investment in local cycling, which continues to be the backbone of the sport's development.

The bank is involved in the promotion of cycling events ranging from the world-famous Nedbank Desert Dash to the Nedbank Cycle Challenge and the Windhoek Pedal Power (WPP) Series. Nedbank has created a professional pipeline that allows athletes to progress from club-level enthusiasts to national representatives in big events such as the Olympics and the World Championships.

With over 35 years of involvement, the bank is considered a pillar of the local cycling community, supporting both elite, competitive races and grassroots development.