De Lange storms to Desert Dash victory
The five-stage, 393-km journey from Windhoek was only finished by some of the more than 1000 cyclists from all over the world, with many not making it to the finishing line at the Platz am Meer Mall in Swakopmund.
JESSE JACKSON KAURAISA
SWAKOPMUND
The Nedbank Desert Dash solo division winner, Tristan de Lange, says it took hard work, a very tactical race and a desire to win the 17th edition of the extreme cycle race.
The Namibian cyclist did so with a split second.
“It was not an easy race but I managed to make it count at the final stretch during a tough race. Thanks, Konny Looser and Don for riding with me through the night. Looser has been an incredible cyclist but today I gave it my all during the final stretch,” said De Lange, who won the gruelling race in a time of 14:55:30.
Pick n Pay Xmas
The riders were also confronted with a different challenge this time. They had to cycle a route of 393 km which included an additional 20 km on top to the 373 km distance of the previous year. It was all about the one who desired it the most and this time De Lange made sure that his name will be on the list as the champion. When dawn broke and with typical Swakopmund weather conditions persisting, many had expected the familiar face of Looser, who had been constantly tormenting his opponents for the past six years, to cross the finishing line first.
The Swedish cyclist gave it his all but could not salvage a seventh consecutive win, with the young De Lange making sure that this would not be the case.
The 2020 champion, who was getting used to making the headlines, appeared distraught that he could not retain the title this time around.
“I experienced a stomach problem and that is why I just did not have enough in my tank to finish ahead of Tristan. I have never raced under so much pressure and almost gave up,” Looser remarked. Loser clocked 14:55:31, while third-place finisher Vincent Don clocked 14:55:43.
Drikus Coetzee managed to cross the finish line in fourth place with a time of 15:31:54. He was among the favourites but had a flat tyre which left him struggling to keep up with the pace of the front three. Kai Pritzen’s efforts saw him clocking a time of 16:54:43 and the fourth place.
In the women’s solo category, Irene Steyn defended her crown successfully with a convincing time of 19:25:43 while her closest rival Anri Parker recorded a time of 20:07:23.
“I am extremely proud of what I have achieved because it was a long night of hard cycling. When I looked over my shoulder, I realised that I had left my co competitors way behind. This was a tough but good win for me,” Steyn said.
The third place went to Nandine Klopper who clocked a time of 21:02:03, while Katja Troschka made it in fourth in a time of 21:38:28.
The first four-man team event was won by Team Hollard, consisting of Igram Cuff, Andre Vermeulen, CP Nel and Christo Swartz. In second place was Team Cymot made up of Fanie Steenkamp, Cobus Smith, Daniel Hahn and Kevin Lowe. Team Reality Dynamix, which consisted of David Garret, Craig Boyes, Bennie Viljoen and Theuns van der Bank, finished in third position.
The first two-person mixed team home was Team Mannie’s Bike Mecca, consisting of Jen Weber and Brandon Downes.
The complete results can be accessed at https://bit.ly/3ILoWpt
The solo women and men winners pocketed N$38 000 each. The two-person team winners received N$24 000 and the four-person team winners N$18 000.
The first Desert Dash was held in 2005 and had only 44 participants competing in the 24-hour race.
SWAKOPMUND
The Nedbank Desert Dash solo division winner, Tristan de Lange, says it took hard work, a very tactical race and a desire to win the 17th edition of the extreme cycle race.
The Namibian cyclist did so with a split second.
“It was not an easy race but I managed to make it count at the final stretch during a tough race. Thanks, Konny Looser and Don for riding with me through the night. Looser has been an incredible cyclist but today I gave it my all during the final stretch,” said De Lange, who won the gruelling race in a time of 14:55:30.
Pick n Pay Xmas
The riders were also confronted with a different challenge this time. They had to cycle a route of 393 km which included an additional 20 km on top to the 373 km distance of the previous year. It was all about the one who desired it the most and this time De Lange made sure that his name will be on the list as the champion. When dawn broke and with typical Swakopmund weather conditions persisting, many had expected the familiar face of Looser, who had been constantly tormenting his opponents for the past six years, to cross the finishing line first.
The Swedish cyclist gave it his all but could not salvage a seventh consecutive win, with the young De Lange making sure that this would not be the case.
The 2020 champion, who was getting used to making the headlines, appeared distraught that he could not retain the title this time around.
“I experienced a stomach problem and that is why I just did not have enough in my tank to finish ahead of Tristan. I have never raced under so much pressure and almost gave up,” Looser remarked. Loser clocked 14:55:31, while third-place finisher Vincent Don clocked 14:55:43.
Drikus Coetzee managed to cross the finish line in fourth place with a time of 15:31:54. He was among the favourites but had a flat tyre which left him struggling to keep up with the pace of the front three. Kai Pritzen’s efforts saw him clocking a time of 16:54:43 and the fourth place.
In the women’s solo category, Irene Steyn defended her crown successfully with a convincing time of 19:25:43 while her closest rival Anri Parker recorded a time of 20:07:23.
“I am extremely proud of what I have achieved because it was a long night of hard cycling. When I looked over my shoulder, I realised that I had left my co competitors way behind. This was a tough but good win for me,” Steyn said.
The third place went to Nandine Klopper who clocked a time of 21:02:03, while Katja Troschka made it in fourth in a time of 21:38:28.
The first four-man team event was won by Team Hollard, consisting of Igram Cuff, Andre Vermeulen, CP Nel and Christo Swartz. In second place was Team Cymot made up of Fanie Steenkamp, Cobus Smith, Daniel Hahn and Kevin Lowe. Team Reality Dynamix, which consisted of David Garret, Craig Boyes, Bennie Viljoen and Theuns van der Bank, finished in third position.
The first two-person mixed team home was Team Mannie’s Bike Mecca, consisting of Jen Weber and Brandon Downes.
The complete results can be accessed at https://bit.ly/3ILoWpt
The solo women and men winners pocketed N$38 000 each. The two-person team winners received N$24 000 and the four-person team winners N$18 000.
The first Desert Dash was held in 2005 and had only 44 participants competing in the 24-hour race.
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