🇳🇦NamibiaSouthern Africa
Tour de France favourites avoid pre-race clashes, setting stage for direct competition
via The Namibian5 min read
The upcoming Tour de France is anticipated to feature a significant yellow jersey battle, with four-time champion Tadej Pogacar aiming for a record-equalling fifth victory. He is expected to face strong competition from two-time former winner Jonas Vingegaard and Paul Seixas. However, a notable aspect of this season is that these top riders have largely avoided each other in pre-Tour stage races. Pogacar, 27, and Vingegaard, winners of the last six Tour de France editions, have only competed against each other once since last year's race, at the one-day European Championships in October. Vingegaard, having recently won the Giro d’Italia, will not race again before the Tour. Pogacar is preparing for the Tour by participating in the week-long tours of Romandie, which he won last month, and Switzerland. Seixas is heading to the Criterium du Dauphine and has raced Pogacar twice this year, finishing second to him in two one-day races. This contrasts with previous years where top contenders frequently met in pre-Tour events. Other riders like Florian Lipowitz and Remco Evenepoel are also opting for different or fewer warm-up races. Despite this, the Tour of Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes will see strong competition among riders like Oscar Olney, Isaac del Toro, Juan Ayuso, and Joao Almeida, who are expected to contend for top-five finishes.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by The Namibian.
Ferrari drivers Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton are anticipated to challenge Kimi Antonelli's winning streak at the Monaco Grand Prix. Leclerc, who recently extended his contract with Ferrari, won his home race in 2024 and has secured pole position three times in the last five years. Hamilton, who finished second in Montreal, is looking forward to returning to Monaco, a circuit where power is less critical and car performance is key. Antonelli, the current championship leader, acknowledged that Ferrari's car might be better suited for the Monaco street circuit, where Mercedes has historically faced challenges. Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff downplayed their prospects, emphasizing the unique nature of Monaco and the small margins involved. Ferrari aims for their first win since Carlos Sainz's victory in Mexico in 2024. Qualifying will be crucial, and the new 'overtake mode' could lead to more overtaking opportunities during the race. McLaren, the most successful team in Monaco, hopes to celebrate their 60th anniversary and 1000th race start by competing against Ferrari and Mercedes, with Red Bull's Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar also expected to contend. Cadillac will make their debut race appearance at the event.
The 2026 Tour de Windhoek, Namibia's international cycling event, was officially launched, with organizers promising an exciting race. Scheduled from August 13 to 16, 2026, the event will feature elite and emerging cyclists competing on challenging routes. Pupkewitz Megabuild managing director, Martin Schoeman, confirmed the company's continued commitment as the title sponsor, highlighting its support for the growth of cycling in Namibia and its corporate social responsibility. Schoeman stated that the sponsorship aligns with Pupkewitz Megabuild's vision of improving lives and contributing to a progressive Namibia. He also noted that Pupkewitz Motors will serve as the mobility partner, and Agrimark as the fuel sponsor, with these partnerships crucial for a professionally managed event. Gerald Vries, executive director in the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture, reaffirmed the government's commitment to fostering a thriving sports environment in Namibia through strategic partnerships, athlete development, and talent nurturing from grassroots to elite levels.
Must ReadThe Roads Authority RA spent over N$2.6 million on private lawyers to conduct disciplinary hearings that led to the dismissal of two executives, former RA transport executive officer Sidney Boois and divisional manager Richard Milinga. They were fired in February after being accused of inflating a vehicle procurement tender valued at approximately N$16 million. Lawyer Ileni Velikoshi received N$1.5 million as chairperson of the hearing, and the firm Köpplinger Boltman van Greunen Incorporated was paid N$1.1 million as the initiator. Labour experts have criticized the expenditure as an "extreme wastage of resources" and a disregard for public funds, especially given that the case has now moved to the High Court, potentially incurring further costs. RA spokesperson Hileni Fillemon declined to comment, citing the sub judice nature of the matter. Lawyer Richard Metcalfe questioned the use of a disciplinary process for allegations of fraud and corruption, suggesting that criminal charges with the Commercial Crime Investigation Unit or the Anti-Corruption Commission would have been more appropriate and cost-effective.
Must ReadNamibia's Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform has stated that Namibian fishing quota holders are permitted to enter into private commercial agreements with third parties. This clarification follows a disputed horse mackerel deal involving a Democratic Republic of Congo-linked entity and Namibian fishing companies. The ministry emphasized that fishing rights are exclusively for Namibians and quotas are allocated to Namibian rights holders in accordance with the country's fisheries laws. Quota holders can engage third parties for harvesting if they lack the necessary vessels or capacity. These arrangements are considered private business agreements between the quota holder and the third party. The dispute in question involved Fond Social de la République Démocratique du Congo, Hodago Fishing Pty Ltd, and Daron Namibia Pty Ltd, concerning a "horse mackerel quota exploration agreement" from September 2025. Fond Social de la République Démocratique du Congo terminated the agreement, alleging that the Namibian companies failed to meet agreed fishing volumes, with only approximately 500 tonnes landed despite a payment of US$3,066,666. The lawyers for the DRC entity demanded repayment and threatened legal action. The ministry did not specify whether such agreements require approval, disclosure, or monitoring, nor did it address whether foreign entities can financially benefit from these arrangements. Hodago Fishing previously cited confidentiality obligations fo