Meet Deshan Naidoo: A Hero Energy Road Cycling Brand Ambassador
Deshan Naidoo is a Hero Energy brand ambassador, a road cyclist based in Cape Town, and living proof that hero energy can show up at any stage of life. It's for anyone willing to put in the hours, however long the road to get there.
By day, Deshan is a data visualisation specialist at Sanlam, a husband, and a dad to a dinosaur-obsessed three year old. By early morning, he's on the road, clocking the kilometres that have taken him from one short ride a week to over 400km and up to 15 hours of training a week.
Who Is Deshan Naidoo?
Deshan has been into sport for as long as he can remember. He played provincial badminton for KwaZulu-Natal growing up and club cricket after moving to Johannesburg for work. Life away from the bike today looks different: family time with his wife and son, a demanding career in data visualisation, and training that has to fit around both.
That balance is exactly what drives how he approaches fuelling. With a young family and a full time job, the hours he spends training have to count, which is where natural, stress-free nutrition comes in.
From 126kg to Competitive Road Cycling
Deshan's journey into cycling is anything but a straight line. Six years in Johannesburg, away from the sport he grew up with, left him at 126kg. Moving to Cape Town is where everything changed. He overhauled how he ate and started small: functional training, and not avoiding a longer walk from the parking lot.
Hiking came first, then trail running as the weight started coming off. Trail running turned into road running, and running became something close to an obsession. Five kilometre races became ten. Ten became half marathons, then full marathons, with his weight settling around 85kg. Frequent injuries, driven by his own competitive streak, eventually forced him to step back from running, and he returned to badminton after years away from the sport.
In 2024, friends in Johannesburg convinced him to try cycling. The bug bit immediately. From a single short ride a week, Deshan now rides more than 400km and up to 15 hours weekly, racing at around 69kg.
His first reason for getting on a bike was simple: he had just become a father, and wanted to be fit enough to do with his son the things his own dad had done with him. Competitiveness took it from there. Now, his goal is a better version of himself, every day.
Race Results and Achievements
Deshan's sporting résumé spans two very different disciplines:
Provincial colours - Badminton, representing KwaZulu-Natal
Cape Town Cycle Tour - sub 3 hour finish
Ride Joburg - sub 3 hour finish
Amashova - 9th overall in his age category
He's quick to point out that cycling is still a relatively new chapter, and that his best results are likely still ahead of him.
Training Grounds and What's Next
Most weekday sessions happen in the north, riding out to Melkbosstrand and Duynefontein for interval training. Weekends are reserved for a peninsula loop or a ride out toward the top of Helshoogte in Stellenbosch.
Deshan's near-term goals are set: competing in his age category at the Western Province Championships in January, and taking on the SA Championships in February, more for the experience than the result. Longer term, the motivation stays the same as the day he started: chasing a better version of himself, one ride at a time.
Why Deshan Chose Hero Energy
Training 400km and up to 15 hours a week comes at a cost: time with family, sleep, and anything left over at the end of the day. For Deshan, that makes every training hour count, and that is exactly where fuelling comes in.
He needs nutrition that works without adding to the list of things he has to think about. Hero's natural energy gel delivers that: quick and easy to consume, with no stress attached to what he is putting into his body during a long ride. The taste, he says, is simply a bonus on top of fuel that actually does its job.
Follow Deshan's Journey
You can follow Deshan's training and racing on Instagram @4deshanzn
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Deshan Naidoo?
Deshan Naidoo is a Cape Town based road cyclist, data visualisation specialist at Sanlam, and Hero Energy brand ambassador. He trains over 400km a week and competes in events such as the Cape Town Cycle Tour, Ride Joburg, and Amashova.
What sports has Deshan Naidoo competed in?
Deshan represented KwaZulu-Natal in provincial badminton growing up and played club cricket in Johannesburg. He later moved through trail running, road running, and marathon racing before taking up road cycling in 2024, where he has completed a sub 3 hour Cape Town Cycle Tour, Ride Joburg, and finished 9th overall in his age category at Amashova.
How did Deshan Naidoo get into cycling?
Deshan started cycling in 2024 after friends in Johannesburg encouraged him to try it. He had previously lost significant weight through hiking, trail running, and road running after moving to Cape Town, but recurring injuries led him to step back from running before discovering cycling.
What are Deshan Naidoo's cycling goals?
Deshan is training to be competitive in his age category at the Western Province Championships in January, and plans to race the SA Championships in February for experience. Longer term, his focus is ongoing personal improvement rather than a single result.
Why does Deshan Naidoo use Hero Energy gels?
With a young family and a demanding job, Deshan needs his training time to count. He uses Hero Energy because it is natural, quick and easy to consume, and free of the stress that can come with less natural sports nutrition, allowing him to get the most from every session.
Is Hero Energy gel suitable for road cyclists and endurance training?
Yes. Hero Energy is designed for endurance athletes, including road cyclists training for long distances and multi-hour rides, who need natural, easily digestible fuel that supports consistent, high-volume training.