The 18th edition of the Nedbank Desert Dash was launched at the Nedbank Sky Garden in Windhoek on Tuesday.

Organisers announced that the event will take place on the 9th of December in the form of a race that spans 393 kilometres between Windhoek and Swakopmund.

Nearly one-thousand entries had been received ahead of the launch of the Nedbank Desert Dash this morning, with international participants also set to compete in the event.

The aim of the Dash is to prepare mostly local cyclists for big events such as the Olympics and the Commonwealth Games.

Nedbank Chief Financial officer JG Van Graan said he is delighted that Nedbank Namibia has played a major role over the past 35 years through their investments in Cycling.

“The Nedbank Desert Dash has become so much more than a sporting event as its benefits go far beyond the sport of Cycling. The race holds great economic benefits for local businesses in Windhoek as well as in the Erongo Region” he said

Her worship, the Major of Swakopmund, Dina Namubes, spoke through video conference on the upcoming event and so did Hollard representative Sam Kauapirura.

“This is indeed the demonstration of the popularity of this race, and we are positive that it will immerse our domestic economy as this event welcome across the globe who will obvious it is that the private sector this partnership will indeed manifest positively to our Namibian economy” she said.

The head of Corporate Communication of Hollard Sam Kauapirura said “ In 52 days from now, the Desert Dash kick-off in Namibia will be for 24 hours the global Cycling story will put the country on the global road map as a country of possibility in the tourism business and nature”

All cyclists will start at Grove mall on the day of the race through the Namib Desert.