The MTN-Qhubeka Feeder Team is based at the UCI World Cycling Centre (WCC) in Potchefstroom, South Africa. One of its up-and-coming young riders, Costa Seibab, has proven once again that Africa’s cycling talent is on the rise as he took first place at the Kia MTB Series event held in Tsumeb, Namibia. The article below was originally published on the WCC Africa website.
Costa Seibeb secures Kia MTB Series with win in Tsumeb
Costa Seibeb managed to secure the overall victory in the Kia Mountainbike Series, by winning the Uris MTB Classic in Tsumeb on Saturday. Seibeb, wo missed out on the first Kia Series race in Klein Aus Vista in May, managed to collect maximum points in Swakopmund, Otjiwa and Uris to take a clear lead over second placed Gerhard Mans (Jnr) and Heinrich Köhne in third.
Seibeb crossed the finish line in at the Uris MTB Classic in Tsumeb one minute ahead of top Junior rider Tristan de Lange who managed to edge across the line just a second ahead of Michael Pretorius of the Kia Cycling Team. With this silver medal position, de Lange also secured the overall victory of the Junior category in the Kia MTB Series, finishing as first junior rider in all four series races.
Kia Cycling Team’s Martin Freyer was not able to participate in Tsumeb, but still managed to stay ahead of teammate Michael Pretorius on the overall series ranking for the juniors. Young Herbert Peters finished in fourth position, only 50 points behind Pretorius.
In the ladies category, Bertha Theron maintained her overall lead with a podium finish in Tsumeb. Ahead of Bertha, the Uris MTB Classic was won by Vera Adrian with Irene Steyn in second position. Vera Adrian, who is currently on holiday from her studies in South Africa, had a very strong race, but managed to finish only in 7th position overall in the Kia Series, as she was not able to participate in the earlier series races.
Kia Motors set out a total of N$25,000 in prize money for the top overall performers in the Kia Moutainbike Series. 344 cyclists participated in the 2013 series which included 4 races, with the Klein Aus Vista Challenge in the south of the country, the Swakopmund Marathon at the coast and the Otjiwa MTB race and Uris MTB Classic in the north of the country.
Kia MTB Series
Men:
1. Costa Seibeb 750
2. Gerhard Mans (Jnr) 600
3. Heinrich Köhne 520
4. Jacques Celliers 440
5. Pieter Swiegers 360
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