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SAPS Captain Pedals to National Selection

JEFFREY’S BAY – A veteran Eastern Cape police officer has proven that physical adversity and demanding operational duties are no barrier to sporting excellence. Captain Gerhard Claassen, based at the Jeffreys Bay Local Criminal Record Centre (LCRC), secured his spot in the 2026 SAPS National Mountain Bike Team following a stellar performance at the SAPS National Mountain Bike Championships. The gruelling four-day competition took place at Lake Eland in Port Shepstone, KwaZulu-Natal, from 24 to 27 August 2026.

Competing in the highly competitive 55–59 age category, Captain Claassen dominated the field across four demanding events, bringing home a total of four medals:

  1. Silver Medal: Prologue (6km lap)
  2. Silver Medal: Hill Climb (6km)
  3. Silver Medal: Cross Country (4x5km laps)
  4. Bronze Medal: Marathon (40km)

Captain Claassen, who still serves on active operational standby duties, took up cycling ten years ago as a form of rehabilitation following his third back operation. “I believe that as a member and an officer, I can influence our younger members to get involved in sports,” said Captain Claassen. “It is vital for staying healthy and offers an essential release to take our minds off an incredibly stressful work environment.”

The Eastern Cape’s cycling prowess was further cemented as Captain Claassen and Detective Warrant Officer Donavan O’Reilly, (overall 1st in all categories an male camp for 2026) from the KuGompo SAPS (formerly Fleet street SAPS) Detectives, were the only two cyclists from the province selected for the elite 2026 SAPS National Mountain Bike Team. The national team is scheduled to represent the SAPS at the upcoming Seweweekspoort Mountain Bike Challenge on 3 October 2026.

Remarkably, the Eastern Cape riders achieved these milestones entirely through personal grit and determination, funding the entire tournament out of their own pockets without financial assistance from the department. They are looking forward to proudly flying the SAPS and Eastern Cape flags at the national event in October.

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