Namibians pushing to survive
WINDHOEK – The toughest stage of the Tropicale Amissa Bongo, Tour de Gabon, passed without incident for the Namibian national cycling team, who managed to squeeze in two riders in the select front group that contested the stage.
The stage started with two brutally tough climbs, which saw the race strung out by repeated attacks, until a five-man move that would later be caught was allowed to go clear. For the Namibian team, many of whom who are racing at such a high level for the first time, the day’s plan was to make sure that the complete team survived the stage, in order to help protect Dan Craven’s high overall position over the coming days.
As temperatures rose into the forties, Johannes Hamunyela, Chiponeni Kashululu and Tjipe Murangi all rode particularly well.
Murangi even surprised himself with his performance on the climbs, which were among the biggest he’d ever ridden.
“It was really hard at the start, but we knew that to be able to help later in the race we had to stay close to the front and survive the climbs.
“The pace was crazy, and I thought I must have been at the back but when I looked around me I realised that I was much stronger than a lot of guys. It was a great day for my confidence,” said Murangi.
Also showing signs of good form is the hugely talented Costa Seibeb, who finished the day, along with Craven, in the front group, after a nasty climb in the final kilometre split to the peloton, leaving thirty men to fight out the final sprint.
By Staff Reporter