At a quiet table inside Wimpy at Lakefield, the exhaustion on Baveesha Naran’s face is unmistakable. But so is the pride.

The Benonian has just done what she set out to do for three long years: finish the Absa Cape Epic and, in the process, become the first Indian woman to conquer one of the toughest mountain bike races on the planet.

“Third time lucky,” she said with a tired smile.

That simple phrase barely scratches the surface of an eight-day battle against brutal climbs, technical descents and relentless heat.

“The distances were long, the climbs were extremely long, and it was hot,” she explained.

“We were on the bike for anything from six to 10 hours every single day. It was mentally tiring and physically draining. But we got to the finish, and that’s all that matters.”

Disappointments

The journey to that finish line, however, was anything but straightforward.

Her first attempt in 2024 ended in heartbreak after illness struck midway through the race.

“I had nothing left as I was completely empty,” Baveesha recalls.

Despite pushing on and completing the remaining stages unofficially, the medal she had worked so hard for remained out of reach.

A year later, history repeated itself in cruel fashion. Extreme heat derailed her race once again.
“I was hallucinating and falling. Something just wasn’t right,” she said.

Her race ended prematurely, another near-miss added to the list. For many, that would have been enough to walk away. For Baveesha, however, it only fuelled the fire.

“I’ve been trying for this thing for so long. This year, everything finally aligned.”

Overcoming setbacks

Riding as part of a women’s development initiative backed by race sponsor Absa, Baveesha arrived at the start line with renewed purpose — and the experience of past setbacks etched into her mindset.
Even then, the race pushed her to her limits.

“On day three, I already felt like I was finished. You feel like you’ve got nothing left, but somehow the body just adapts. It finds strength from somewhere.”

That “somewhere” often went beyond the physical. In the toughest moments, Baveesha leaned on faith, family and memory, especially that of her late mother.

“When you’re in those mountains, and you’re struggling, you start calling on everything from God, your parents, and your angels. I was like, ‘Mommy, help me get over this mountain.’”

Crossing the finish line this time was overwhelming.

“I was in tears. I was just grateful to God, to my family, to everyone who supported me. It’s been a long journey.”

Pushing against the odds

But Baveesha’s achievement carries even deeper meaning.

Living with vitiligo, a condition that affects skin pigmentation, meant that racing under extreme sun exposure came with added challenges.

“For someone like me, being in the sun that long is very difficult. I had to constantly reapply sunscreen, manage burns, and take care of my skin after every stage. It’s not easy,” she said.

And yet she pushed through, not just for herself, but for others watching.

“I wanted to show people that nothing is impossible. Especially women in the Indian community, people living with vitiligo, young girls, we are not limited.”

Her mission goes beyond medals. It’s about shifting mindsets.

“In our community, many women stay at home while the men go out and ride. I want to change that. I want families to get active together, to get out, and to try something new. Sport can change your life.”

Community

For Baveesha, that belief is personal. She credits mountain biking with helping her navigate some of life’s toughest moments.

“Sport gives you purpose. It shifts your mindset. It helps you deal with things you don’t even realise you’re carrying.”

Her journey has also been shaped by community, from her cycling club, which once raised funds to get her to the race, to the broader cycling network that embraced her from the start.

“I rode with the African cycling community from the beginning. They supported me, taught me, and lifted me. This medal isn’t just mine, it belongs to all of us.”

She also paid tribute to her race partner, Philemon Sebona, a seasoned rider who played a crucial role in her success.

“He guided me, coached me through the race, and helped me become a better rider. That partnership made a huge difference.”

Now, with the medal finally around her neck, Baveesha is already looking ahead.

“If I get the opportunity and the sponsorship, I would love to go back stronger. My mind is already thinking about what I can do better.”

Also Read: Tanqua Kuru rides high in SA’s cycling boom

Also Read: Boksburg cyclist Tyrone Flanagan pushes forward as endurance ride continues