WINDHOEK - Jean-Marie Mostert and Martin Freyer emerged as champions in their respective categories at the 2024 Nedbank Rock and Rut Cross Country (XC) Series finale on Saturday. The event, held at the newly inaugurated Towerbos Trails just outside Windhoek, showcased some of the best talents in Namibian mountain biking.

According to Namibia Press Agency, Mostert clinched the elite women's title with a significant lead, completing the 13.5-kilometer race in 01:04:14, over five minutes ahead of her closest rival, Mimi Hough. Meanwhile, junior rider Delsia Jansen van Vuuren outperformed the elite women's field, winning the Under-18 category with an impressive time of 56:08, outpacing all elite competitors.

In the men's elite category, Martin Freyer took the overall series championship with a strong performance, finishing the 27-kilometer race in 01:26:03. His nearest competitor, Theuns Van der Westhuizen, was a close second, just 23 seconds behind. Notably, junior rider Roger Suren led for much of the race, completing his five loops in 01:10:21, showcasing his potential against seasoned athletes.

Post-race, Freyer praised the challenging new course. "Technically this is a rock landscape, and the climbs are quite steep, and this track doesn't give you enough time to recover because it's very steep most of the time and poses a challenge, but I managed to pace myself well which gave me the win," he explained. He emphasized the international caliber of the new trail, noting its value in preparing riders for global competitions.

Van Vuuren also expressed enthusiasm for the new course, stating, "The race went well, and despite the challenge, I managed to complete it in 16 minutes per lap. I enjoyed the race, and my strategy was to push hard on the first lap and then maintain the pace. The new trail has become my favourite because it presents various challenges with its steep hills."