The Namibia Cleaning Chemical Solutions (NSSC) development cycling team is preparing for the annual Nedbank Desert Dash, which kicks off in Windhoek on December 10, 2021.

The mountain bike race is the longest single-stage race in Namibia and beyond, and will see cyclists from all over the world take on the grueling 393km from Grove Mall in Windhoek to Platz am Meer in Swakopmund.

The NCCS four-man squad includes Jan Montshioa, Philleno Sebona, Zarvier Papo and Markernzy Eiseb, while Gustav Basson and Junior de Koe make up the two-man squad.

Jacob Kiyola, the sporting director of the NCCS, said their participation in the race was not about the destination but the trip.

“This is one of the biggest races on the Namibian cycling calendar. It is a great visibility for the team at national and international level, and we cannot miss such an opportunity ”, he said.

The race crosses Khomas Hochland and the Namib Desert to the Atlantic coast. Adventure doesn’t just take stamina and willpower to compete and finish the race, but it also takes exploring the breathtaking desert environment filled with cacti, herbs and shrubs. , as well as steep and incredible descents.

The NCCS team is ready for the test as they have trained regularly, covering an approximate distance of 50 km off-road per day and around 150 km on weekends in Windhoek and the surrounding area. Despite such a difficult task for the team, the sporting director is convinced that they will be able to cross the finish line.

About their future plans, Kiyola said international participation in events such as the International Cycling Union (UCI) in South Africa and other competitions on the African continent is the way to go.

“We plan to become the first Namibian UCI continental team,” he said confidently.

He said cycling is not just a sport code; it’s also good for the heart, which means good health. From an environmental point of view, cycling does not generate any carbon emissions, which is a way of protecting the environment and society at the same time.
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In addition, it is a better transportation system. As part of the path forward to make this sporting code a success, Kiyola is determined that cycling needs vision and optimism to achieve a goal. In a message of encouragement to young people, Kiyola urged them to cycle from an early age.

In a message to future contest participants, Kiyola said, “Know what you want and go for it! The 393 km from Windhoek to Swakopmund seems impossible, but you can do it ”.

The NCCS development team wants
do more for the community, but lack of funding is a challenge. The team recruited a few runners between the ages of 14 and 16 from Katutura and rural areas. Through
This initiative, they offer training and develop cycling skills from the local level to the professional level.

To date, Nedbank Namibia has invested over N $ 7 million in Desert Dash.

Nedbank’s commitment to promoting the sport began in 1986 when the very first competitive cycling race in Namibia was held with just over 80 participants.

Today the biggest cycling event on the Namibian sporting calendar, the Nedbank Cycle Challenge – also known as ‘the biggest race under the sun’ – each year attracts more than a thousand cyclists in all its facets.