Craven retires from pro cycling
• By Michael Uugwanga
TOP Olympian cyclist and the country’s greatest in the last 17 years, Dan Craven has retired from professional cycling events.
He has however indicated if selected by the Namibian Cycling Federation (NCF) for the Commonwealth Games taking place in Birmingham this July, he would participate.
Craven (39) started cycling seriously when he was studying at Stellenbosch University, where he graduated with a degree in politics, philosophy and economics, before he moved to Switzerland in 2005 to pursue a cycling career.
A strong time trialist, Craven was a runner up in the 2006 African Championships, and boasts a seventh place in the time trial at the 2007 B World Championships in Cape Town.
His success locally is second to none, having won the National Road Race Championships in 2005, 2006, 2008, 2015, 2016, 2020.
In 2008 he won the African Road Championships in Morocco and the Grand Prix Cristal Energie in France.
His other notable success is winning the Union Cyclist International (UCI) Africa Tour in Morocco, Chas Messenger road race in Buckinghamshire, England, Shay Elliot Memorial Race in Ireland, Tour of Rwanda twice, the Clayton Velo Spring Classic in UK twice and the Tour du Cameroun in Cameroon.
Craven was speaking to Confidente after taking part in his first race at the Nedbank Cycle Challenge in Windhoek, since testing positive for Covid-19 before the Tokyo Olympic Games last year, which resulted in him missing the event.
Craven did not make the podium finish at the Nedbank Cycle Challenge which was won by Alex Miller.
“I am no longer a professional cycler, as I am now in the process of starting a business that does racing for little ones as I just want to give back to the community of cycling. I have a new family.”
His performance at the Nedbank Cycle Challenge means that his chances of going to the Commonwealth Games are slim.
“I knew that I was not going to win but I did quite well.
The Nedbank Cycle Challenge is one of the qualifications to the Commonwealth Games. I do want to go but that all depends on the Namibia Cycling Federation if they want an old tactician in the team,” said Craven.