Miller, Preen shine at UCI Africa Gravel Champs

Namibia’s Alex Miller showcased his world-class versatility as a cyclist when he won the first-ever UCI Africa Gravel Biking Championship on Saturday.At just 24 years old, Miller has already competed in two Olympic Games (Tokyo 2021 and Paris 2024) in Olympic cross-country mountain biking. In this discipline, he has previously won the continental championship and also secured a bronze medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games on Australia’s Gold Coast.In only its second year of existence, Saturday’s Khomas 100, powered by Hollard , was upgraded to serve as the UCI Africa Gravel Biking Championship, as well as the 2025 Namibian Championship. Both titles will be attached to Miller’s name for the next 12 months.Miller (Swatt Club), as the defending Khomas 100 champion, fended off a strong challenge from South Africa’s Marc Pritzen, Jaco van Dyk, and Wessel Botha (professional teammates for Honeycomb). Incidentally, Miller is also the reigning double Namibian road cycling champion (road race and individual time trial).Afterwards, Miller said on social media and in interviews that he considered it a great honour to successfully defend the national jersey in the Khomas 100 while also becoming the first African continental champion in gravel biking.“I’ll do my best to be a good ambassador for the jersey when I wear it in Europe. It was quite a tactical and demanding day out under the Namibian sun. Shortly after the start, at the first gravel stretch after 10 km, I lost one of my water bottles, but Jaques Hanekom (Hollard) was a legend and gave me one of his, which probably saved me in the end. Later, after the middle water point (around 80 km), I grabbed two bottles, but unfortunately both fell out on the next downhill (yes, I’ll now invest in better bottle cages). From there it was all about rationing what I had left from the beginning. I tried to save as much energy as possible, including keeping my mouth closed and breathing through my nose. Luckily, at the 120 km water point I managed to grab two bottles.Fortunately, my legs still had the energy to respond when Marc and Jaco launched their attacks, and I managed to break away with about nine kilometres to go. Now just a few more training sessions before I rejoin my Swatt Club team in Europe.”157 km Women’s RaceSouth Africa’s Hayley Preen (27) took control in the second half of the race and maintained her lead over the determined charge of Namibia’s Anri Greeff to claim the African championship.Greeff had to settle for second overall for the second consecutive year after compatriot Vera Looser beat her in a sprint finish in 2024. Nevertheless, Greeff (30) secured the Namibian champion’s jersey, and the African silver medal is certainly nothing to scoff at.Leading ResultsUCI Elite MenAlex Miller (NAM) – 4:39:15Marc Pritzen (RSA) – 4:40:26Jaco van Dyk (RSA) – 4:43:01Wessel Botha (RSA) – 4:44:08Martin Freyer (NAM) – 4:55:04Joe Laverick (RSA) – 4:57:21Daniel van der Walt (RSA) – 4:57:22Halalisani Ndebele (RSA) – 4:57:26Theuns van der Westhuizen (NAM) – 5:11:25Adrian Key (NAM) – 5:22:13UCI Elite WomenHayley Preen (RSA) – 5:36:32Anri Greeff (NAM) – 5:39:56Sonica Klopper (RSA) – 5:52:54Violette Neza Irakoze (Rwanda) – 5:52:56Belinda van Rhyn (NAM) – 5:53:40Hayley Simmonds (RSA) – 6:27:2884 km (Men)Marco Thiel (U18, NAM) – 2:41:43Roger Surén (U18, NAM) – 2:41:43Theodor Janse van Vuuren (NAM, Paralympian) – 2:48:54Mike Baartman (U18, NAM) – 2:48:5584 km (Women)Delsia Janse van Vuuren (U18, NAM) – 2:50:34Marissa Mouton (NAM) – 3:07:14Jacky Shipena (NAM) – 3:07:1444 km (Men)Micah Chase (U16, NAM) – 1:35:23Daniël Hennes (U16, NAM) – 1:36:21Karl-Nikolai Lisse (U16, NAM) – 1:36:2244 km (Women)Nicole Surén (U16, NAM) – 1:52:29Joadri de Beer (U16, NAM) – 1:52:38Qara Volschenk (U16, NAM) – 1:52:44TEASER: Namibia’s Delsia Janse van Vuuren and Roger Surén have been selected to represent the country at the 2025 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, where they will compete in the Junior Women’s and Junior Men’s races on 12 September. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1LVTmUK1vB/

Miller, Preen shine at UCI Africa Gravel Champs

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Republikein 2026-01-12

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Miller, Preen shine at UCI Africa Gravel Champs

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