Dan Craven, a former pro rider who has continued racing so he could ride the Tokyo Olympics, is now out of the Games with Covid-19. And he has insisted he caught the virus while out on a group ride, warning other cyclists to be careful.
Craven, a former Rás Tailteann stage winner and yellow jersey, rode for a number of pro teams including Europcar and Israel Cycling Academy, with whom he finished his last pro contract in 2017.
He competes for Namibia and has put his own resources into continuing with his racing career specifically to compete in the Tokyo Olympics, which should have been his third Games.
Craven became something of a social media hit at the last Olympics in Rio when his wife live Tweeted his ride via his Twitter account. He also produced other eye-catching social media output, not to mention riding the Olympic TT on a road bike and no aero kit.
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“I have been dreaming about Tokyo 2020 basically since the Rio Olympics ended in 2016,” Craven told The Namibian newspaper.
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“I have been working towards it specifically and pig-headedly since the end of 2017 – that's four years now that I've been working specifically towards this goal.
“So, a lot of time and effort and
personal finances have gone towards this and it all changed from one little
virus,” said the 38-year-old who has been Namibian champion six times and is a
former African champion.
“I caught the virus on a training ride
with three other people – one person had it, but the two other people did not
get it. If I can catch the virus on a training ride, I think it’s extremely
scary and people really need to be careful.”
He added he and his wife had been trying
to get vaccinated in Spain, where they live, and while they had been “fighting
the system for months” they were unable to get the jab.
“We have been doing everything in our power to get the vaccine, but the bureaucratic system to get registered has just been crazy and two hours after I tested positive I got a phone call saying I can come in for my vaccine and that was pretty hard."
His place in the Namibian team has been taken by Tristan De Lange. Craven said he was delighted his team mate would now get to go to the Games as Namibia had opted to fill the berth left often by his Covid-19 diagnosis.
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