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ALEX Miller beat Tristan de Lange after a thrilling sprint to the line to win the Nedbank Namibia National Mountain Bike Marathon Championship title on Saturday.

Competing at Farm Otjompaue near Matchless Mine for the first time, the two cyclists could not be separated over the three-lap 60km course, but Miller went on to take gold in a time of 2 hours 29 minutes 46 seconds, with De Lange finishing a second behind, while Ingram Cuff came third in 2:38:07.

The victory completed a great year for Miller who had earlier won the African MTB Championships in April, while he also won a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in August.

Simon Kauta came fourth in 2:53:01 and Maruen Kleopas fifth in 2:59:44.

Vera Adrian won the Elite Women’s race in 2:57:23, followed by Anri Krugel 24 seconds behind, while Courtney Liebenberg came third in 3:19:31.

Daniel Hahn won the Junior Men’s category, completing the two-lap course in 1:38:37, while Kevin Lowe came second more than a minute behind in 1:39:47, with Theuns van der Westhuizen third in 1:49:50.

Petrus Human won the Sub Veteran Men’s category in 2:51:32, followed by Braam Vermeulen (3:02:34) and Andre Vermeulen (3:03:59); Clinton Hilfiker won the Veteran Men’s category in 2:53:25, followed by Jaques Celliers (3:05:29) and Ian Grassow (3:06:18); and Piet Swiegers won the Masters Men’s category in 2:51:23, followed by Stefan Bohlke (3:20:50) and Louis Peens (3:38:57).

Michelle Doman won the Sub Veteran Women’s category after beating Silke Bean in a sprint to the line, with both cyclists posting a time of 3:40:37, while Elanor Grassow won the Veteran Women’s category in 3:51:50.

Roger Suren won the u16 Boys category over two laps in 1:46:29, followed by Oskar Roeber (1:52:05) and Justus Beulker (1:58:12); Marco Thiel won the u14 Boys category over one lap in 53:39, followed by Sean Lowe (58:52) and Nathan Chase (58:52), while Rosemarie Thiel won the u14 Girls title in 1:06:12.

Micah Chase won the u12 Boys tile over one lap in 1:05:34, followed by Luke Coomer (1:16:21), while Anne Cramer won the u12 Girls category in 1:18:01, followed by Nicole Suren (1:30:00).