The Africa Continental Cycling Championships got underway in Wartburg, South Africa on Monday, with Namibia winning two medals in the Elite Women and Junior Men’s Team Time Trial competitions.
In the Elite Women’s Team Time Trial, Namibia won a silver medal, finishing behind South Africa and ahead of Eritrea.
Namibia’s Elite Women’s team of Michelle Vorster, Irene Steyn and Vera Adrian completed the time trial in a 1 hour 21 minutes 23 seconds, finishing more than four minutes behind South Africa, who won the event in 1:17:48. Eritrea won the bronze medal with a time of 1:23:33.
In the Junior Men’s Team Time Trial, the Namibian team of Tristan de Lange, Herbert Peters and Brandon Plaatjies came third in a time of 36 minutes 48 seconds.
South Africa once again won the gold medal in 34:19, while Morocco won the silver medal in 34:38.
Eritrea caused an upset by beating South Africa in the Elite Men’s Team Time Trial.
Eritrea won gold in 1:03:39, finishing a mere three seconds ahead of South Africa, while Ethiopia won the bronze medal in 1:04:51.
They were followed by Rwanda and Algeria, while the Namibian Elite Men’s team of Dan Craven, Martin Freyer, Michael Pretorius and Heiko Redecker finished sixth overall in a time of 1:08:27.
Namibia’s team manager Rolf Adrian said he as very happy with the results.
“I’m extremely happy, especially considering that both the Junior Men and Elite Women’s teams were the only ones in their categories who only had three riders. I’m also very happy with the sixth place of our Elite Men’s team. They raced their hearts out and the team captain Dan Craven said that it was the best team time trial performance that he had been part of,” he said.
On Tuesday, Namibia competed in the Individual Time Trials for junior men and women, but failed to finish amongst the medals.
Tristan de Lange came ninth overall in the Junior Men’s Individual Time Trial, finishing nearly three minutes behind the winner, Gregory de Vink of South Africa. Namibia’s Herbert Peters finished 12th overall.
In the Women’s Junior Individual Time Trial, Namibia’s Sophia Simon came sixth overall, finishing more than eight minutes behind the winner, Frances du Toit of South Africa.
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