Alberton’s Gavin Kilpatrick and Roberto Gnudi made their mark at Namibia’s inaugural Khomas100 African Continental Gravel Bike Championship on August 23.

Both riders powered their way to second place, showcasing Alberton’s strong cycling talent.

The race attracted top cyclists from across SA, including Nico Louw from Fourways and Brennon Hawker from Boksburg, who took third in their categories.

The event made history as the first continental gravel championship, fully sanctioned by the Namibian Cycling Federation (NCF), the Confederation of African Cycling, and the Union Cycliste Internationale.

As the main sponsor, Hollard helped cement the event’s place as a new flagship on the NCF calendar.

According to Tauko Shilongo of the NCF, the inaugural race was groundbreaking not only for Namibia but for the continent.

“This inaugural gravel race was the first of its kind. In addition to gravel bikes, we made provisions for MTB bikes and E-bikes to ensure all cyclists could take part,” he said.

Speaking after the race, Gavin said: “This race pushed us to the limit, but representing Alberton on such a big stage was an incredible feeling.”

The championship also stood out for its inclusivity, hosting a para-cycling category for the first time, with three riders with disabilities taking on the 86km distance.

With Namibia set to host the event annually, Alberton’s cyclists have firmly established themselves among Africa’s top gravel competitors.

Race categories and distances

Cyclists from across the world competed across three distances:

• Full distance (Khomas100): Riders started at Cymot in Kleine Kuppe, with staggered starts for men, women and E-bikes.

The cut-off required participants to reach water point 5 by 15:00.

• Half distance: Starting at the Gross Barmen Resort at 08:00, with a 14:00 cut-off.

• Short distance: Also starting at the Gross Barmen Resort, beginning at 08:30 with a cut-off at 12:30.