Para-cyclists to compete in Desert Dash
The Nedbank Desert Dash includes para-cyclists competing in the 397km, 24-hour race that sees cyclists riding through the Namib Desert, from Windhoek to Swakopmund.The Run Along Foundation in collaboration with the Namibia Paralympic Committee (NPC), with the support of Nedbank Namibia, registered a four-person hand cycling team as well as a four-person visually impaired cycling team.
The athletes, who are currently based in Ongwediva, are going through their paces and are looking forward to the event taking place on 9 and 10 December 2022, from Grove Mall in Windhoek to Swakopmund’s Platz am Meer Mall.
The hand cycling paralympic team consists of Roodley Gowaseb, Nico Kharuxab, Modestu Lipuleni, and Gabriel Nghiishililwa. The team will be joined by Lucas Ndahangwapo for any emergency substitutions.
The visually impaired paralympic team consists of Mateus Kambudu, Sem Shikondjele, Fillemon Lotto, and George Nehwaya, who will be cycling together with Stevenson Hamukoto, Robert Nambambi, David Haluteni, and Naftal Paulus, as their pilots to assist them in navigating the route.
Roodley Gowaseb, the team captain of the para-cycling athletes, said training is going well but mentally some of the athletes are still not ready for the challenge. “Physically, the guys are showing that they will do it seeing as the race is divided into four stages. Now we need to work on the mental preparation as this will be our first time competing in this Dash with hand cycles.”
Founder of the Run Along Foundation, Jean-Paul Schmidt, said the para-cyclists have been in camp for quite a while and they are looking forward to making their maiden appearance at the Nedbank Desert Dash 2022.
‘No different’
“The visually impaired team consist of eight cyclists of which four are visually impaired while the other four act as their pilots. This team has been preparing for this event for the last four months and at the moment, they are in their high mileage stage of training,” he said.
Schmidt added that training sessions have been going well for the athletes who will be travelling to Windhoek in two weeks' time to do their dry runs as well as to get used to the terrain. He said that it’s going to be a tough race for the riders, but they are looking forward to showing the world that they can achieve their goals and dreams.
“What one should know is these bikes do not have any modifications like e-bikes, which help a rider. Our bikes require a rider to use energy just like any bicycle, so it will be really tough for the riders, especially from stage two to five. But all the team’s hand cyclists and visually impaired cyclists will do their level best during the Dash,” he said.
Nedbank Namibia’s Communications and PR Manager, Selma Kaulinge, applauded the athletes for the hard work they put into preparing for the Desert Dash.
“I’ve seen clips circulating on social media of the team’s training and I am so proud to see our country’s very own para-cyclists defy all odds and take on one of the greatest cycling races in the world. At Nedbank Namibia, we understand the importance of diversity and inclusion, and we are excited to be seeing more diverse teams take on the challenge.”
Kaulinge hopes that other para-cycling teams interested in taking part will do so in future.
“One thing that often goes unnoticed, is the wonderful sense of camaraderie that is created amongst cyclists on the route. We have seen cyclists help each other go over steep inclines, cycle in groups, and show incredible team spirit. This is what all teams can expect when taking part in the race. It is truly an unforgettable experience,” she concluded.
Over 900 cyclists have registered to race across the three categories (solo men and women, two-person teams, and four-person team).