Namibia wins silver at African Cycling Champs

THE Namibian cycling team stamped its authority on the continent after cyclist Dan Craven snatched a silver medal, while the team ended sixth overall at the 2006 African Cycling Championships in Mauritius on Friday.

Team manager Glenn Howard said the results in the men’s time trial were a wholly South African and Namibian affair, with South Africa taking positions 1, 3 and 5 and Namibians placed at 2, 4 and 6. Ten nations were participating in a starting field of 26.Well-known Tour de France and European pro rider Robert Hunter took gold in 27:45 at an average speed of 48 kilometres an hour.Dan Craven, who was not Namibia’s favourite for the time trial after having finished only fourth in the recent championships in Windhoek, pulled out all the stops to come in at 28:35, followed by RSA’s Daryl Impey in 28:54.The rest of the line-up was Erik Hoffman of Namibia in fourth place (29:08), Darren Lill of South Africa fifth (29:11) and Jacques Celliers of Namibia sixth (29:23).”This has been a tremendous morale booster,” Howard said.”Our expectations were surpassed and the fact that we actually have more riders who could have ridden an equally competitive time trial gives us cause for optimism that we can build towards more medal goals on the continent.”This vindicates our decision to send a national team to the championships.The guys have approached the event in a very mature and professional manner.”The Namibian team now has three time-trial silver medallists in Dan Craven, Erik Hoffmann and Mannie Heymans, who were silver medallists at the All Africa Games.The Namibian Cycling Federation (NCF) saw this competition as preparation for the World Championships in Cape Town and the All Africa Games in Algiers next year.Its long-term goal is to qualify for the 2008 Olympics.However, further preparation will be contingent on sourcing sufficient financial support and the NCF is actively looking for sponsors, particularly national brands, otherwise the team will not be able to gain the necessary experience of riding together in competition, so crucial to building an understanding between riders, said Howard.Craven and his teammates were naturally very pleased with their results.Craven said: “I did not have a very happy season this year due to illness and accidents at the wrong times, but this certainly puts a cherry on top and will give me a boost for the new season.”The time-trial course was shortened by the organisers from the original 28 km to only 22 km as a result of traffic authority concerns about closing a major arterial road on the tiny island.However, participants said the organisation of the event was first class.In the women’s time trial over 11 km, the gold went to Auriélie Halbwachs of Mauritius in 16:03, at an average speed of 41 km/h.Ronel van Wyk of South Africa took silver in 16:07 and Linda Davidson of Zimbabwe did her country proud with the bronze in 16:14.The women’s competition consisted of only eight cyclists.On Sunday, Namibia’s Hofmann ended eighth overall with South Africa taking the first six positions in the road race.Viljoen and Bassinghtwaighte abandoned the race, while the rest ended in the the bunch.”Our guys rode their hearts out.I am very proud of them,” Howard said.NampaTen nations were participating in a starting field of 26.Well-known Tour de France and European pro rider Robert Hunter took gold in 27:45 at an average speed of 48 kilometres an hour.Dan Craven, who was not Namibia’s favourite for the time trial after having finished only fourth in the recent championships in Windhoek, pulled out all the stops to come in at 28:35, followed by RSA’s Daryl Impey in 28:54.The rest of the line-up was Erik Hoffman of Namibia in fourth place (29:08), Darren Lill of South Africa fifth (29:11) and Jacques Celliers of Namibia sixth (29:23).”This has been a tremendous morale booster,” Howard said.”Our expectations were surpassed and the fact that we actually have more riders who could have ridden an equally competitive time trial gives us cause for optimism that we can build towards more medal goals on the continent.”This vindicates our decision to send a national team to the championships.The guys have approached the event in a very mature and professional manner.”The Namibian team now has three time-trial silver medallists in Dan Craven, Erik Hoffmann and Mannie Heymans, who were silver medallists at the All Africa Games.The Namibian Cycling Federation (NCF) saw this competition as preparation for the World Championships in Cape Town and the All Africa Games in Algiers next year.Its long-term goal is to qualify for the 2008 Olympics.However, further preparation will be contingent on sourcing sufficient financial support and the NCF is actively looking for sponsors, particularly national brands, otherwise the team will not be able to gain the necessary experience of riding together in competition, so crucial to building an understanding between riders, said Howard.Craven and his teammates were naturally very pleased with their results.Craven said: “I did not have a very happy season this year due to illness and accidents at the wrong times, but this certainly puts a cherry on top and will give me a boost for the new season.”The time-trial course was shortened by the organisers from the original 28 km to only 22 km as a result of traffic authority concerns about closing a major arterial road on the tiny island.However, participants said the organisation of the event was first class.In the women’s time trial over 11 km, the gold went to Auriélie Halbwachs of Mauritius in 16:03, at an average speed of 41 km/h.Ronel van Wyk of South Africa took silver in 16:07 and Linda Davidson of Zimbabwe did her country proud with the bronze in 16:14.The women’s competition consisted of only eight cyclists.On Sunday, Namibia’s Hofmann ended eighth overall with South Africa taking the first six positions in the road race.Viljoen and Bassinghtwaighte abandoned the race, while the rest ended in the the bunch.”Our guys rode their hearts out.I am very proud of them,” Howard said.Nampa