Nedbank Namibia National Championships 2025 set for the weekend

17 July 2025 

The 2025 Nedbank Namibian Mountain Bike XCC, XCO, and Cross-Country Championships will take place at Towerbos Trails on 19 and 20 July 2025.

This premier race event is hosted by the Namibia Cycling Federation (NCF), with Nedbank Namibia as the main sponsor.

On 19 July, the event will feature the Cross-Country Olympic (XCO), while on Sunday, the cyclists will compete in the Cross-Country Short Track (XCC) and Electric Cross-Country (E-XC) events.

The races will ignite the trails by showcasing Namibia's finest cycling talent, ranging from seasoned professionals to the sport's future stars.

The national mountain biking championships are a vital component of the Namibian cycling calendar, featuring the cross-country marathon national races.

These national races serve as platforms for Namibian cyclists to accumulate crucial UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale) points, which are essential for global rankings and, ultimately, for qualifying for international events such as the Olympic Games.

The races on 19 and 20 July are designed to challenge riders across all age and skill categories.

On both days, the action will kick off at 09h00 with the Nipper (U10) and Sprog categories, followed by the youth and veterans at 10h00.

The UCI elite men and women cyclists, together with the under-23s, will race from 11h00.

The national marathon races serve as a platform for Namibian cyclists with international ambitions, as the nation has historically produced riders who have risen through these races' ranks to represent their country on the global stage.

One such cyclist is Alex Miller, who has consistently excelled in these national XCC and XCO events as well as represented Namibia in the XCC MTB category at the previous Olympic Games.

His journey, from promising local talent to Olympian, underscores the direct impact that races of this nature have on a cyclist’s development and success.

Other notable Namibian cyclists who have emerged from these races to compete internationally include Tristan de Lange and Vera Looser, demonstrating the consistent pipeline of talent fostered by these events.

Beyond Olympic qualification, the Nedbank Namibian Mountain Bike Championships are integral to the Namibian cycling ecosystem. They provide a crucial training ground and venue for the world-famous Nedbank Desert Dash, Namibia's iconic ultra-marathon mountain bike race.

Nedbank Namibia's Communication and Public Relations Manager, Selma Kaulinge, says they are a resolute supporter of Namibian cycling:

‘As money experts at Nedbank Namibia, we believe in doing good in the communities in which we operate. Our continued sponsorship of these races and the broader cycling series reflects this philosophy. These races are more than just sporting events; they are investments into our national sports development as they provide a platform for our athletes to thrive and enable them to compete on international level.’

Meanwhile, President of the Namibian Cycling Federation (NCF), Tauko Shilongo, expressed his enthusiasm for the upcoming event, saying they expect quality and tough competition amongst cyclists:

‘The NCF is deeply involved in ensuring the highest quality of races, from sanctioning and technical oversight to promoting fair play and rider safety. Our role is to provide a structured and supportive environment that allows our cyclists to perform at their peak. We are working closely with our stakeholders and sponsors, Nedbank Namibia, to ensure this event meets international standards.’

Registration for the event closed on Wednesday.