Elite riders geared for Nedbank Desert Dash

As the 2017 Nedbank Desert Dash draws closer, expectations are high and race followers are eager to see which of the elite cyclists will be outperforming one another at this year's 369 km race from Windhoek to Swakopmund.

Konny Looser and Michelle Vorster are two of the highly esteemed racers that will tackle this renowned race.

Looser has completed the Nedbank Desert Dash three times – twice in the solo men's category and once as part of a two-man team with girlfriend Vera Adrian in the mixed category.

He is the 2016 Desert Dash champion and will this year again be competing in the solo men's category.

For any cyclist, diet and training go hand in hand in preparing for such an exclusive race.

“In terms of dietary preparations, I don't have a very strict diet, however I make sure that I eat healthy which includes a selection of diversified food. I focus on eating three meals per day and at the same time each day for control purposes.

“Breakfast consists of muesli and fruits and for lunch I'll have meat and vegetables, whilst dinner includes salad with an omelette.

“I only start carbo-loading two days before the race. You have to make sure that your 'batteries' are fully charged when you get to the start line.

“The body is simple to understand and sometimes it's only mathematics. You only have to count how many calories you can store and how many you burn. For the Desert Dash, it's important that you have eaten enough.”



'JOYFUL'

Michelle Vorster is renowned for her participation in the Nedbank Desert Dash which she's completed four times – twice in a two-person mixed team and twice in a four-person mixed team.

She is still deciding on which category she'll participate in for this year once the teams and arrangements have been finalised by her sponsors.

“The Nedbank Desert Dash is a joyful event on my calendar, which forms part of my base training that contributes to the following year. However, training needs to be consistent to build endurance and power.

“I have a sophisticated programme to follow in general, but the core of it is consistency. My training generally contains five days per week with two rest days during the week. I also do three workouts in the gym per week to build core muscle strength, which is key to enhancing endurance.

“Group rides with friends are a good way to keep the morale high on longer training days and one or two night rides before the event will ensure you understand the conditions for the coming Desert Dash,” adds Michelle.



BUILD-UP

Since the 2016 Desert Dash, both Konny and Michelle have participated in a number of cycling events which have been key highlights since they crossed the finish line last year.

“The MTB Ultra race which included 7200 meters of climbing and 210 kilometres of riding was a tough race to complete, since I experienced harsh conditions with lots of heavy rains. I had bad luck with two punctures, however I made it back twice and won the race after 10.5 hours by two seconds in the final sprint,” says Konny.

As for Michelle there were a few.

“I would say the ABSA Cape Epic was certainly my highlight thus far. My teammate Carmen Buchacher and I finished in fifth place overall in our first ever Epic and we were third on the Queen Stage of the event. Every mountain biker understands the challenges of the Epic. To go there as rookies and finish as the top African team, was certainly a highlight for my cycling career.

“Another highlight was in Mauritius when I became Namibia's first ever African title holder in the elite women's mountain bike cross country championships.”

There is always so much other cyclists can learn from these two experienced racers.

Konny adds: “You can't improve overnight. To get better, it requires a lot of passion, time and commitment. You have to make sure that you always have some fun while riding and see the progress.

“Challenge your body with different training and try to reach your personal limits. It doesn't always need a result in a race – sometimes a great performance during a training ride can be the same.

“Open your mind and strengthen your mental capacity. You only improve if you step forward and overcome obstacles.”

Michelle encourage cycling enthusiasts to always remember why you started cycling in the first place, as this will keep you motivated even when you are training for any event.

“Once you get your bike, go for a professional setup, it really makes a huge difference to how you feel on your bicycle. Get a good helmet and get a fitted saddle. These are often things we want to save money on, but are probably the most important in terms of enjoyment and safety on the bike. And remember to have fun while riding.”