{"id":74513,"date":"2025-12-07T12:40:00","date_gmt":"2025-12-07T10:40:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/?p=74513"},"modified":"2025-12-09T10:08:27","modified_gmt":"2025-12-09T08:08:27","slug":"drikus-coetzee-wins-the-2025-nedbank-desert-dash","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/drikus-coetzee-wins-the-2025-nedbank-desert-dash\/","title":{"rendered":"Drikus Coetzee wins the 2025 Nedbank Desert Dash"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Drikus Coetzee drew on his extensive experience in the Nedbank Desert Dash to win the 2025 title in a remarkable time of 14 hours, 13 minutes, and 32 seconds on Saturday, 6 December. Having started at The Grove Mall of Namibia, in Windhoek, the Namibian raced 401 kilometres through the night to reach the Platz Am Meer Waterfront, in Swakopmund, first of the 814 riders who took on the full distance in the 21st<\/sup> edition. Nina Holtrup stormed through the women\u2019s field, after a difficult start to the race, to claim the crown as queen of the Nedbank Desert Dash in 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Drikus Coetzee, of Hollard-Davin Trust driven by Indongo Toyota, used his Nedbank Desert Dash experience, a bold early move, and recent knowledge of the route following a reconnaissance ride the weekend before the race to win the 2025 title. Photo by NUKA NUKA.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The sheer length of the course, coupled with notoriously tough weather conditions and rough terrain at times, makes the race from Windhoek to Swakopmund one of the most iconic events on the global mountain biking calendar. As gravel bikes have become more capable, more riders have attempted to conquer the course on drop bar bikes, as was the case with Coetzee in 2025. Others, like Andreas Seewald, chose to equip their mountain bikes with drop bars and time trial extensions to improve their efficiency into the headwind, which tends to blow from the coast inland during the Namibian summer. One might have expected Seewald\u2019s equipment choice to prove more robust, but misfortune for the European Mountain Bike Marathon Champion, and experience in the difficult conditions ensured that the race played out in Coetzee\u2019s favour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Hollard 181\u2019s Nina Holtrup stormed from fourth to first in the final 230 kilometres to seize the crown as queen of the 2025 Nedbank Desert Dash. Photo by NUKA NUKA.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Relatively cool weather, with the mercury never soaring into the mid-30s, light winds, and rain the previous evening in Windhoek all made for fast times over the opening kilometres. Seizing this opportunity and riding with the plan of putting his rivals on the back foot, Coetzee attacked early. \u201cWe had a deep field this year,\u201d the champion stated. \u201cI took it out in the first 10 kilometres, just to hurt the legs of the others, and then I got caught at 120 kays into the race.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Drikus Coetzee (far left) collaborated with Andreas Seewald (foreground) and Daniel Loubser (following) for the best part of 100 kilometres between Check Points 1 and 2. Photo by NUKA NUKA.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Behind Coetzee, Seewald had found allies in Martin Freyer and Daniel Loubser, for the first 93 kilometres, to Check Point 1. Thereafter, Freyer dropped off, while the German and the South African worked together to reduce the 2022 winner\u2019s advantage on the road. \u201cI decided to sit up because they [Seewald and Loubser] were only 2 and a half minutes behind me, and I\u2019d gone out hard, so I needed to conserve a bit,\u201d Coetzee recalled. \u201cWe worked together well until about 12 kilometres before halfway when Dan [Loubser] dropped from the group.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Loubser would withdraw from the race soon thereafter with stomach difficulties, leaving Coetzee and Seewald as the only contenders for victory. \u201cAt about the 240 mark, on the sandy section, there was one piece I just couldn\u2019t go through, and that was where Andreas [Seewald] got the gap. Thereafter, I had some difficulties with my stem coming loose, so my light wasn\u2019t shining on the road anymore, and I had to stop, quickly, to fix that. Then the chase was on again\u2026\u201d Coetzee explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Andreas Seewald held an 11-minute lead going into the final 100 kilometres of the Nedbank Desert Dash, but a catastrophic rear wheel mechanical put the European Mountain Bike Marathon Champion out of the race. Photo by NUKA NUKA.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI never backed down, and I took it out extremely hard today, which makes me proud of my ride and how I performed \u2013 regardless of the result,\u201d he continued. \u201cThis is definitely not the way a sportsman would like to win, to be honest. I\u2019d like to send my heartfelt condolences to Andreas [Seewald]\u2026 He was leading, but unfortunately, he experienced bad luck. I\u2019ve had my bad luck here before, and I know that this race isn\u2019t finished until it\u2019s finished. As a sportsman, I can feel his pain right now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Coetzee was referencing Seewald\u2019s mechanical while leading by 11 minutes inside the final 100 kilometres. \u201cI was leading the race with a nice gap, at the pipeline, with about 80 kilometres to go when I destroyed my rear rim,\u201d the German said. \u201cThere was a hole in the ground, which I saw way too late, and I had to try to jump over it. I wasn\u2019t able to get my rear wheel over it, and I completely smashed the wheel, destroying the rim and the derailleur. So, there was no way to continue. I\u2019m just happy that I didn\u2019t crash. After coming second 9 years ago, it was looking good today, but now I guess I\u2019ll have to come back again to try to win the Nedbank Desert Dash.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seewald\u2019s mechanical put Coetzee back into the race lead, and from that moment all the Namibian had to do was reach the Platz Am Meer Waterfront finish line. The Hollard-Davin Trust driven by Indongo Toyota man\u2019s winning margin was 94 minutes over Jacques Hanekom. Behind Coetzee, the battle for second was a close one, with just 2 seconds separating Hanekom and Freyer. This result was the closest across the solo categories, as well as the two-person and four-person relay competitions, but it was by no means the only fiercely contested battle for podium places.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Drikus Coetzee (leading) extended his heartfelt condolences to Andreas Seewald (following) after the German\u2019s race-ending mechanical. Photo by NUKA NUKA.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In the men\u2019s four-person relay competition, the CYMOT Racing team, of Daniel van der Walt, Blaine Kieck, Herman Fourie, and Marco Thiel, held off the Hollard and MBM teams by 128 seconds and 281 seconds, respectively. Only 73 seconds separated the Mannies Bike Mekka squad from Hollard Mixed in the tussle for Mixed category glory, in the four-rider relays. While Danzel de Koe and Andre Vermeulen, of Hollard Life, bested Alan Gordon and Allan Britnell, of Insect Science Sterk Span, by just 28 seconds in the two-person men\u2019s relay category.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The rugged landscape of Namibia\u2019s Namib Desert creates a unique and challenging terrain for an ultra-endurance bike race. Photo by NUKA NUKA.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The women\u2019s solo race was also a tightly contested affair. After dominating the second half of the route, Holtrup turned a 30-minute deficit, after 174 kilometres, into an 8-minute margin of victory. \u201cI knew the first half would be hard, because I live on the coast and I don\u2019t respond well to the heat or altitude of Windhoek,\u201d the German who lives in Swakopmund confessed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the early kilometres, Yolande de Villiers set the tempo in the women\u2019s race, only for Anri Greeff to take over the lead after Check Point 1, 93 kilometres in. Greeff would lead until the 350-kilometre mark, by which time Holtrup had reduced the deficit to 8 and a half minutes. \u201cI was like Pac-Man in the second half,\u201d Holtrup laughed. \u201cI just caught one rival at a time and kept racing. I knew I\u2019d get faster as we got closer to the coast, so I tried not to panic when I lost so much time on the first climb up Kupferberg Pass. I just kept taking salt tablets and eating, trusting that I\u2019d be stronger later.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Holtrup\u2019s strength over the final 51 kilometres created a 17-and-a-half-minute swing on the time sheets to Greef, who had to settle for second. De Villiers completed the podium places, holding off the 2023 and 2024 winner, Belinda van Rhyn. The women\u2019s two-person relay race was won by Michelle Doman and Marissa Mouton, of Food Lovers Market. The MBM team, of Jeanne Heunis, Monika Szczepan-Kruger, Luanne van der Schyff, and Genevieve Weber, won the women\u2019s category in the four-person relay competition. Behind the MBM outfit, just 17 seconds separated the CYMOT Racing Women in second from the Megatech ILoveBoobies team in third.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Each Water Point and Check Point along the 401-kilometre route is an oasis of hospitality thanks to Namibia\u2019s famous community spirit and the support of each of the Nedbank Desert Dash sponsors. Photo by NUKA NUKA.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The final victors of the 2025 Nedbank Desert Dash were Darien and JP du Toit. The Commitments took home the mixed category title in the two-person relay division. To relive all the action from the event, follow @nedbankdesertdash<\/a> on Instagram and like the Nedbank Desert Dash<\/a> Facebook page. For more information, visit www.desertdashnamibia.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2025 Nedbank Desert Dash Results<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Solo Men\u2019s Results:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. Drikus Coetzee: Hollard-Davin Trust driven by Indongo Toyota (14:13:32)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Jacques Hanekom: Hollard Hearts (15:47:43 | +1:34:11)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Martin Freyer: CIOVITA (15:47:45 | +1:34:13)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Solo Women\u2019s Results:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n
    1. Nina Holtrup: Hollard 181 (17:00:04)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    2. Anri Greeff: Hollard (17:08:22 | +8:18)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    3. Yolande de Villiers: Team Benthin African Agencies (17:33:11 | +33:07)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      Four Person Relay Results \u2013 Men\u2019s Teams:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

        \n
      1. CYMOT Racing: Daniel van der. Walt, Blaine Kieck, Herman Fourie, & Marco Thiel (12:56:27)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      2. Hollard: Theuns v.d. Westhuizen, Adrian Key, Roger Suren, & Ingram Cuff (12:58:35 | +2:08)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      3. MBM: Daniel Abraham, Xavier Papo, Nathan Chase, & Christiaan van der Westhuizen (13:01:08 | +4:41)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

        Four Person Relay Results \u2013 Mixed Teams:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

          \n
        1. Mannies Bike Mekka: Delsia Janse van Vuuren, Mike Baartman, Theodor Janse van Vuuren, & Erin Mackridge (15:22:53)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        2. Hollard Mixed: Louise Breed, Horst Neumann, Melissa Hinz, & Vernon Maresch (15:24:06 | +1:13)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        3. Megatech Mixed: Bianca Nell, Morne Nell, Julius Braun, & Christilee Jansen (16:03:34 | +40:41)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

          Four Person Relay Results \u2013 Women\u2019s Teams:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            \n
          1. MBM: Jeanne Heunis, Monika Szczepan-Kruger, Luanne van der Schyff, & Genevieve Weber (16:16:08)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          2. CYMOT Racing: Christal Freyer, Nicola Sauber, Rosemarie Thiel, & Jaen-Marie Mostert (16:39:05 | +30:57)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          3. Megatech ILoveBoobies: Corli de Bruyn, Almari de Milander, Jan v. Backstrom, Jana van Dyk (16:39:22 | +31:14)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

            Two Person Relay Results \u2013 Men\u2019s Teams:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

              \n
            1. Hollard Life: Danzel de Koe & Andre Vermeulen (15:08:22)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            2. Insect Science Sterk Span: Alan Gordon & Allan Britnell (15:08:50 | +28)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            3. CYMOT Racing: Murray Koch & Marcel Henle (15:22:19 | +13:57)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

              Two Person Relay Results \u2013 Mixed Teams:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

                \n
              1. The Commitments: Darien & JP du Toit (17:35:25)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                Two Person Relay Results \u2013 Women\u2019s Teams:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

                  \n
                1. Food Lovers Market: Michelle Doman & Marissa Mouton (17:21:02)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                  For the full results from the 2025 Nedbank Desert Dash click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                  Drikus Coetzee drew on his extensive experience in the Nedbank Desert Dash to win the 2025 title in a remarkable time of 14 hours, 13 minutes, and 32 seconds on Saturday, 6 December. Having started at The Grove Mall of Namibia, in Windhoek, the Namibian raced 401 kilometres through the night to reach the Platz […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":74516,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"featured_location":[338],"class_list":["post-74513","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-events","featured_location-bottom-row"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/74513","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=74513"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/74513\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":74521,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/74513\/revisions\/74521"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/74516"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=74513"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=74513"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=74513"},{"taxonomy":"featured_location","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/featured_location?post=74513"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}