Coetzee happy with Commonwealth Games performance

WINDHOEK, 10 APR – National time trial champion Drikus Coetzee said he is happy with the time he set in the individual time trial at the 2018 Commonwealth Games on Tuesday.
The Commonwealth Games are underway in Queensland, Australia.
The young cyclist, who was the first Namibian to compete in the men’s individual time trial on the day, finished 19th in the race which saw 54 cyclists compete.
He completed the 38.5 kilometre (km) route in 53 minutes, 16:85 seconds (53:16.85).
His teammate Martin Freyer finished 37th in the same race in 58:12.22. Cameron Meyer of Australia won the race in 48:13.04.
Speaking to Nampa after the race via WhatsApp, Coetzee said the course suited Freyer and himself very well as it was very steep, with challenging hills towards the middle and technical corners in some stages.
“I had great confidence and gave it my best. I feel good about managing to pace myself well and bringing it home in 19th place, sneaking into the top 20. I managed to beat three (other) African athletes across the line,” he said.
He added that the result was great for him because some of the athletes he beat to the line did better than him at the African Championships in Rwanda, which is motivation for him to do better in his road race on Saturday.
Meanwhile, in the women’s individual time trial event Vera Adrian finished 16th out of 19 cyclists. She finished the 25.5km route in a time of 42:26.14.
Australia’s Katrin Garfoot won the race in 35:08.09.
All Namibian riders will compete in the road race on Saturday.
Adrian, Coetzee, Michelle Vorster, Dan Craven, Martin Freyer and Tristan de Lange are the cyclists representing Namibia in the male and female events of the individual time trial, road race and mountain biking.
The Namibian team is competing in athletics, bowls, boxing, cycling, gymnastics, Para-sports and triathlon at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, which ends on Sunday.

NAMPA