Team Topnaar fully prepared for Nedbank Desert Dash 2016

If you''re driving the gravel road that follows the Kuiseb River through the Namib Desert and spot what seems to be an oryx, look a little closer. You might discover that the horns are actually bicycle handlebars, and hoofs are pedals. Although best known for travelling by donkey cart, some Topnaar who live along the Kuiseb, use bicycles to navigate the rough desert landscape. We recently spoke to Theo Wassenaar, Research Coordinator at Gobabeb, who tells us: “All the cyclists are members of the Topnaar community living in the Kuiseb River and currently two of them are employed at Gobabeb. A few years ago some of our staff became very interested in bicycle racing after they participated in the inaugural Gobadash in 2012. In 2013 Mannie Heymans donated bicycles and friends and staff members of Gobabeb donated their time as well as well as cycling clothes for the team. Since then, our cyclists have participated in three Desert Dash races as a four-man team. 2016 will be the first year that they will be supported by Nedbank. “Since the first race, these participants have varied, however at least two of the cyclists have participated in all races. The team for this year comprises Samuel Gowaseb, Richard Swartbooi, Golden Anamab and Martin Khurisab. In 2015 our team finished in a good time of just over 19 hours. training“Currently the team trains on the gravel roads around Gobabeb as well as on single track routes that they helped to construct. Their schedule comprises three to four day training routines per week, with one day focused on power, one on cardio training and another on endurance. As part of their endurance training, they will often cycle from Gobabeb to Walvis Bay on Saturdays and Sundays which covers roughly 100 km. “This year Nedbank has pledged to support the team financially by covering all costs for participating in the race as well as the rehabilitation their Momsen bicycles. “In addition, Gobabeb will provide the support vehicle on race day. We can thankfully say that many members of the cycling community in Windhoek have donated clothes and other cycling gear to ensure that our racers have a complete Desert Dash experience,” says Wassenaar. Cycling is a necessary but also a proud part of the team''s lives. As they set off for home at the end of a long day''s work, one really understands the connection that they have with cycling. “On a late Friday afternoon, with the sun setting on the Namib sand dunes, their retreating figures can often be seen disappearing towards distant villages on their ''dikwielfietse'', keeping a steady rhythm, because they know that as long as they carry on pedalling, they will get there,” Wassenaar adds. Supporting the Topnaar team would also not have been possible without Mannie''s Bike Mecca. Team Topnaar is fuelled by a strong competitive spirit and they''re excited about the prospect of doing the Dash as a team, pitting their strength against the best that Namibia can offer, and carrying the banner high in the spirit of cycling.

Team Topnaar fully prepared for Nedbank Desert Dash 2016

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Republikein 2025-08-05

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Team Topnaar fully prepared for Nedbank Desert Dash 2016

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