Dan Craven (born 1 February 1983) is a Namibian racing cyclist, who last rode for Namibian amateur team NCCS Cycling Team. He is the grandson of Danie Craven, the South African rugby union icon.

Dan Craven
Craven at the 2015 Le Samyn wearing his Namibian national champions jersey.
Personal information
Full nameDan Craven
Born (1983-02-01) 1 February 1983 (age 41)
Otjiwarongo, South West Africa
Team information
DisciplineRoad
RoleRider
Rider typeAll-rounder
Amateur teams
2005–2008Team Fidibc.com
2018–2019Embrace the World
2019Cycling Team Bochum
2019NCCS Cycling Team
Professional teams
2009–2011Rapha Condor
2012Team IG–Sigma Sport
2013Synergy Baku
2014Bike Aid–Ride for Help
2014–2015Team Europcar
2016–2017Cycling Academy
Major wins
One-day Races and Classics
National Road Race Championships
(2005, 2006, 2008, 2015, 2016, 2020)
Medal record
Men's road cycling
Representing  Namibia
CAC Road African Championships
Silver medal – second place 2013 Sharm El Sheikh Road Race

Craven started cycling seriously when he studied at Stellenbosch University. After graduating with a degree in Politics, Philosophy and Economics he moved to Switzerland in 2005 in order to pursue a cycling career.[1]

A strong time trialist, Craven was a runner up in the 2006 African Championships, and boasts a 7th place in the time trial at the 2007 B World Championships in Cape Town.

Craven joined the Rapha Condor team for the 2009 season. Craven was the 2008 African Road Race champion, having taken the crown in Casablanca in November just two days after he had picked up a Bronze in the African Time Trial Championships.[2] He joined Team IG–Sigma Sport for the 2012 season.[3] He spent 2013 riding for Synergy Baku before joining the German-based Bike Aid–Ride for Help squad for 2014.[4] In May 2014 it was announced that Craven had been signed to UCI World Tour team, Team Europcar, with effect from July. His first major goal was the last grand tour of 2014, the Vuelta a España.[5]

In 2015 he won the Namibian National Road Race Championships for the fourth time.[6]

Major results

edit
2005
1st   Road race, National Road Championships
2006
1st   Road race, National Road Championships
2nd   Time trial, African Road Championships
2nd GP Demy–Cars
2007
2nd Time trial, National Road Championships
2nd Giro delle Valli Aretine
3rd GP Folignano
7th Time trial, UCI B World Championships
2008
African Road Championships
1st   Road race
3rd   Time trial
1st   Road race, National Road Championships
1st Grand Prix Cristal Energie
2nd Trofeo Salvatore Morucci
3rd Giro del Cigno
3rd GP Inda–Trofeo Aras Frattini
5th GP Folignano
6th Coppa della Pace
2009
1st UCI Africa Tour
1st Chas Messenger Road Race
1st Shay Elliott Memorial Race
1st Stage 4 Tour of Rwanda
1st Clayton Velo Spring Classic[7]
2nd Shay Elliott Memorial Race
2010
1st Clayton Velo Spring Classic[8]
1st Stage 4 Tour of Rwanda
2nd East Midlands Classic
African Road Championships
3rd   Road race
5th Time trial
3rd Overall Rás Tailteann
1st Stage 1
2011
4th Jock Wadley Memorial[9]
5th Overall Vuelta Ciclista a León
1st Stage 3
5th East Yorkshire Classic[10]
7th Overall La Tropicale Amissa Bongo
1st Mountains classification
8th Overall Ronde de l'Oise
8th Ryedale Grand Prix[11]
2012
National Road Championships
2nd Time trial
2nd Road race
7th Lincoln Grand Prix[12]
2013
African Road Championships
2nd   Road race
6th Individual time trial
2014
1st   Overall Tour du Cameroun
1st Mountains classification
5th Overall Tour du Maroc
9th Road race, Commonwealth Games
2015
1st   Road race, National Road Championships
4th Overall La Tropicale Amissa Bongo
9th Time trial, African Games
2016
National Road Championships
1st   Road race
2nd Time trial
2017
2nd Road race, National Road Championships
2018
1st   Overall Tour du Sénégal
1st Stage 6
3rd Road race, National Road Championships
2019
2nd Road race, National Road Championships
7th Overall Tour of Good Hope
9th Road race, African Road Championships
2020
1st   Road race, National Road Championships

References

edit
  1. ^ Fraser, Graham (30 January 2014). "Glasgow 2014: Namibian Dan Craven relishes 'home' Games". BBC. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
  2. ^ Dan Craven
  3. ^ Stokes, Shane (2 December 2011). "Craven relieved to secure Sigma Sport Specialized deal after missing out on Europcar ride". VeloNation. VeloNation LLC. Retrieved 27 January 2012.
  4. ^ Schutz, Helge (8 January 2014). "Namibian Cyclists Leave for Tour De Gabon". allAfrica.com. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
  5. ^ Fletcher, Laura (24 May 2014). "Q&A with Dan Craven". cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
  6. ^ "Dan Craven is the new Namibia's road national champ". colnago. Archived from the original on 9 March 2015. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  7. ^ "Clayton Velo Spring Classic:Road, Clitheroe – Sunday, 28 Feb 2010". British Cycling. 28 February 2010. Retrieved 8 March 2015.
  8. ^ "Craven wins Clayton Velo Classic". Cycling Weekly. 1 March 2010. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
  9. ^ Bull, Nick (17 March 2016). "Bialoblocki wins 'fastest ever' Jock Wadley Memorial". Cycling News. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  10. ^ Hunt, Andy (1 August 2011). "Hunt triumphs at East Yorkshire Classic". Cycling Weekly. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  11. ^ "Ryedale Grand Prix". British Cycling. 5 June 2011. Retrieved 26 July 2015.
  12. ^ "Road: Downing wins Lincoln Grand Prix". British Cycling. 13 May 2012. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
edit