Miller and Krugel winners at Little Las Vegas

The eighth and final event in the Hollard Gravel & Dirt mountain bike series was held on Saturday at Little Vegas, near Heja Lodge east of Windhoek Las Vegas. The participation of 2021 Olympic rider Alex Miller and the equally formidable Drikus Coetzee raised the level of competition especially in the men’s marathon race over 62 kilometres. Miller was leading after the first lap of 31 km and eventually won by a comfortable margin, in 2 hours 11 minutes 22 seconds. Due to his European competition, Miller did not compete in most of the Gravel & Dirt series races, but said this was his third for the year and that he always eagerly supports the locally-organised races whenever possible. Coetzee, who is preparing to take on a Munga race from Bloemfontein to Cape Town one of these days, took second place in 2 hours 14 minutes, while series leader Gerhard Mans took the final podium spot in 2:16:44. Xavier Papo (fourth) led the best of the rest, ahead of Danzel de Koe, Christo Swartz and Clinton Hilfiker. Anri Krugel, leader of the women’s series, concluded with another win, finishing in 2 hours 39 minutes 57 seconds. Krugel wasted little time in breaking away from main challenger Monique du Plessis (second in 2:55:28) and had mostly the windy conditions to contend with, riding on her own during the two laps. Robyn-Lee Swartz finished third (2:59:23), ahead of Ulande Viljoen, Maike Bochert, Bertha Theron and Anneke Steenkamp. In the 35 kilometre race, national U16 riders Delsia van Vuuren and Rosemarie Thiel won in a sprint finish ahead of third-placed Irene Steyn (age grouop 34-49). The men’s 35 km winners were Justus Beulker, Vetubiavi Ketjijere and Tiaan Nel. During the race, several game species including springboks and zebra were encountered by riders on the route.