Hollard dominates Nedbank Namibia WPP5…as Coetzee and Greeff claim ITT victories

Hollard’s men’s and women’s teams excelled at the Nedbank Windhoek Pedal Power Series 5 (WPP) on Sunday, with Drikus Coetzee and Anri Greeff clinching victory in the Individual Time Trials (ITT) categories.

The event, which saw the return of JT Cycling from Angola for the second consecutive year, featured strong performances across the board. In the men’s ITT, Coetzee emerged victorious with a time of 02:18:34. Christiaan Van Rensburg of Cymot Racing secured second place with a time of 02:18:38, while Martin Freyer finished third with 02:23:35. Angola’s Igor Silva of JT Cycling rounded out the top four, clocking 02:23:35.

In the women’s ITT, Greeff crossed the finish line first with a time of 01:57:41, marking her second win of the WPP series. Melissa Hinz followed closely with 01:57:47 for second place, while Genevieve Weber took third with a time of 01:57:48.

Coetzee expressed satisfaction with his performance, noting, “The guys started attacking around seven kilometers into the race. I followed for some time, and I tried one move, and I saw I was gone. I had one rider at my wheel, and I had to go full out because once you have that gap, you must just go.” He also mentioned that he will be taking a sabbatical from cycling for personal reasons but plans to participate in the Nedbank Desert Dash on December 6, 2024.

Greeff, reflecting on her victory, said, “It was an interesting race because every time one attacked, they would always be closed down. That’s when the teamwork came into play. This is my second victory in the WPP series, so I am happy.”

In the team classifications, Hollard Ladies—comprising Greeff, Hinz, Lelani Swart, Elanor Grassow, and Corné Van Wyk—maintained their dominance by winning the team race. They were followed by the MBM Ladies team, including Maja Brinkmann, Delsia Janse Van Vuuren, Irene Steyn, Belinda van Rhyn, and Silke Bean, who finished in second place. The Cymot Ladies Racing team, with Jean-Marie Mostert, Olivia Shililifa, Sonja Hennes, and Madison Mann, secured third place with a combined time of 05:59:01.

In the men’s team races, the Cymot Racing Team—featuring Christiaan van Rensburg, Kevin Lowe, Theuns van der Westhuizen, Kai Pritzen, and Gino Chiappini—claimed first place. Hollard Insurance’s team, including Drikus Coetzee, Ingram Cuff, Jaques Hanekom, Adrian Key, Gerhard Breed, and Heiko Diehl, finished second. The JT Angola team, comprising Igor Silva, Albano Diego, Herlander Antonio, Aguinaldo Sassinde, and Edivalo Ferrao, took third place.

Race organizer Stefanus Feris reported that the event went smoothly with no incidents. “We are now looking forward to concluding the 2024 WPP Series calendar. We would like to thank all our sponsors and partners for a successful season,” he said.

Selma Kaulinge, Nedbank Namibia Communication and Public Relations Manager, added, “We are incredibly proud of the winners who demonstrated exceptional skill, determination, and perseverance at the Nedbank Windhoek Pedal Power Race 5. Their hard work and passion are truly inspiring. It was amazing seeing the participation of JT Cycling from Angola join us once again and make the podium in this round of the WPP series. With only one race left in this year’s series, we’re excited to see which cyclists will walk away with the title of Nedbank Windhoek Pedal Power Race Series for 2024.”

The final event of the Nedbank Namibia WPP Time Trials and ITT will take place on September 1 at Aus Hills.