Looser dethroned in Desert Dash

JESSE JACKSON KAURAISA

SWAKOPMUND

Nedbank Desert Dash winner Tristan de Lange says it took hard work and a tactical race, coupled with desire to win the Nedbank Desert Dash solo race.

The journey from Windhoek to Swakopmund was only finished by some, while others could only see the finish line from a stretcher and others did not even make it as close as feeling the mist of the coastal town on Saturday.

“It was not an easy race but I managed to make it in the final stretch after a tough race.

“I would like to thank 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,” De Lange said.

The riders this time around were confronted with a different challenge, having to cycle an extra 20 km compared to the previous year.

It was all about the one who desired it the most and this time De Lange made sure that his name would be on the winners list.

As dawn broke in Swakopmund, many had expected the familiar face of Looser, who has been constantly tormenting his opponents for the past few years, to cross the line first.

Looser he gave it his all but the young De Lange made sure that he was not going to win again.

The 2020 champion, who was getting used to making the headlines, was distraught by the fact that he could not retain the title this time around.

“It is very disappointing that I could not win but I congratulate De Lange for finishing ahead of me.

“I had a stomach problem and that is why I just did not have enough in my tank to finish ahead of Tristan.

“I swear that I have never raced under so much pressure that I almost gave up,” Looser remarked.

Loser clocked 14:55:31, while third-place finisher Vincent Don clocked 14:55:43.

Drikus Coetzee crossed the finish line in third place in the men solo category, finishing in a time of 15:31:54. Coetzee, who was among the favourites, had a flat tyre which left him struggling to keep up.

Kai Pritzen’s efforts, which saw him clocking 16:54:43, were enough to secure him a fourth place.

In the women’s solo category, Irene Steyn defended her crown with a convincing 19:25:43 while her closest rival Anri Parker recorded a 20:07:23 finish.

“I am extremely proud of what I have achieved because it was a long night of hard cycling.

“I tried looking over my shoulder and I realised that I had left many of them way behind. This was a tough but good win for me,” Steyn said.

Third place went to Nandine Klopper, who clocked 21:02:03, while Katja Troschka made it in fourth in a time of 21:38:28.

The first four-man team to reach Swakopmund was Team Hollard, consisting of Igram Cuff, Andre Vermeulen, CP Nel and Christo Swartz.

In second place was Team Cymot, which consisted 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, came third.

The first two-person mixed team was Team Mannie’s Bike Mecca, consisting of Jen Weber and Brandon Downes.