Spotlight on Bergran

Next Friday, Bergran Jensen (19), together with Kevin Lowe, Daniel Hahn (both 17), and Casper Kruger (27) will take on the Nedbank Desert Dash ultra-mountain bike marathon over 397 kilometres from Windhoek via the Khomas Hochland and the Namib Desert to Swakopmund.Except for Kruger, this Cymot team has an average age of only 17.66 years, but that does not mean that the trio are rookies.Jensen will ride his fourth Dash in a four-rider team, while Hahn and Lowe participated for the first time last year. Kruger says this will be his first Dash.Immediate enjoymentJensen, who has just completed matric, told Namibia Media Holdings, that he first started cycling at the age of nine and was immediately obsessed with the sport.After honing his skills with the FNB school competition, he shifted his attention to the Gravel & Dirt and Rock & Rut mountain bike competitions, where he flourished. As if mountain biking wasn&#039;t enough, Jensen started riding a racing bike and also ventured into individual time trial races.Jensen trains an average of 15 hours a week and says discipline is crucial."It all started in 2012, when I borrowed a bike from my friend and did my first FNB League race for schools. It was breathtaking! Although I didn&#039;t do well and fell about five times in those races, I couldn&#039;t let go of the handlebars. I fell in love with cycling that day."At the beginning, I trained with Carolin Janik, Hella Rust, and Ingrid Mills, who helped me improve my technical skills and fitness. The three taught me to have fun on the bike, which grew into a passion! Then they talked me into racing more and said I should do something with the talent I am blessed with."CoachingAt the start of 2018, Hans du Toit, the national cycling coach, threw his weight behind Jensen."I was much older when I started training with Hans, and I am still with him today. He helped me tremendously and believed in my abilities. He gives us hell for hours on the bike, but the next day we are back to train again. He really is our training group&#039;s cycling dad."Apart from the fact that Jensen is a gifted cyclist, academically he is no Neanderthal. He obtained half-honour colours in 2018 and has been boasting the full package ever since. In addition, he was the head boy of Windhoek Gymnasium in 2022."This year I had to focus on matric as AS level exams are not easy. In addition, I was the head boy and could not practise as much as in previous years. Although the school supports and understands the life of a sportsman, it was sometimes difficult to divide my attention between cycling and schoolwork."In memoryJensen lost his father, Gunnar, during an event in 2019."It was tragic when my father passed away during the Gravel & Dirt competition at Otjiwa. He and my mother, Marinda, supported me every day I cycled. I am immensely grateful for their encouragement. They said it&#039;s better to invest money in something I enjoy than to buy me the best mobile phone or give me money so I can hang around in shopping malls all day."Every day when I get on my bike and ride, I ride it in memory of my father."PreparedIn 2019, Jensen, Greg Chase, Mariska Strauss and Yolandie de Villiers won the mixed four-rider division in 15 hours, 29 minutes, and 12 seconds and finished fourth overall of all the four-rider teams.With the 2020 competition, he, Hugo Hahn, Morné Nell and the master rider, Piet Swiegers, achieved second position in the four-man team division in 14:28:27.Last year, with the extended Dash, Jensen teamed up again with Swiegers as well as Monique du Plessis and Jean-Marie Mostert. They finished second with 16:11:56 in the mixed four-rider competition and finished fifth overall of all the four-rider teams."I&#039;m really looking forward to this Dash because I get to ride it with two of my best friends. We would like to do very well. Besides Casper, two of my teammates gained some experience with last year&#039;s Dash, and they understand the challenge&#039;s requirements. This year is going to be really fun!"Jensen took the Namibian national under-23 XC mountain bike title this year, but that is not his only achievement.Mountain biking2014: (U12) third with national XC championship. 2015: (U12) XC Championship first place. 2016: (U14) FNB Schools League – two first and four second places. 2017: (U14) XC Championship second. FNB schools - six second positions. 2018: (U16) XC Championship second. FNB schools two second places and four third places. 2019: (U16) FNB schools champion. 30-kilometer Cycle Classic first. XC Championship second. XC Marathon Championship first. African Championship second. 2020: (junior men 17-18 years) XC Championship second place. 50 km Cycle Challenge first. FNB school’s champion. 2021: (junior men) XC marathon champion. FNB schools champion. 50 km Cycle Classic first. XC Champion. XC Marathon Champion. 2022: (under-23 men) national XC champion. African Championship second.tielman@republikein.com.na

Spotlight on Bergran

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-04

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Spotlight on Bergran

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-04

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