26 Aug 2015

Botswana Railways in conjunction with its cycling team, Botrail Cycling Club (BCC) held their annual cycling race over the weekend in Mahalapye.

Despite the windy weather on Sunday, about 119 cyclists around the country came to try their luck in the Botrail Annual Cycling Challenge 2015.  The event which was dubbed Botrail Annual Cycling Challenge 2015, saw many cyclists from as far as Swaziland, Jwaneng and Selebi Phikwe and other places trying their luck in the challenge.

The race was categorised into four races, the 134km, 63km, 30km and 10 km and all started from Mahalapye to Shoshong and back to the starting point. The winner of the 134km senior men, Boipuso Masepe of Botrail Cycling Club said in an interview that he was very proud to have emerged the winner though it was not an easy race.

Masepe said the main challenge was the windy weather, which hindered them to cycle at their pace making the race very difficult. However, he noted that though there were many cyclists during the race, he was expecting stronger men that could give him competition.

Only one man, he said gave him a run for his money.  He said he was very happy that Botswana Railways engaged in many sporting activities to help nurture their talent, by giving them the support they need. Masepe encouraged individuals and companies to take part in sport, especially companies so that they could also help with sponsorship and increase their prize money.  He walked away with P3 000.

Another winner who was also the only lady competing in the 134km challenge, Anouk Van De Geest from Tsela Riders from Gaborone said she was also glad to have won, but pleaded with more women to come forth and take part in the longer challenges.

Though it was a very long and new route for her, Van De Geest said she enjoyed herself despite the wind, adding that she managed to beat other men because she paired herself with the first group of men so that she could fight the strong wind with them. Under-23 winner for the 134km race was 21-year-old, Lulu Telekelo from Jwaneng Cycling Club who was happy to have emerged the winner. 

Having won numerous challenges in the country, Telekelo was very glad that he was making progress in his life and thanked Jwaneng mine for their support. He advised other young people to participate in sport to keep themselves busy from doing things which could endanger their lives.

The 63km junior male race was scooped by 16-year-old, Dimpho Masi of Gaborone Cycling Club while 16-year-old, Jip Vader of Tsela Riders from Gaborone won the female race. The 30km race which was open to all was scooped by 15-year-old, Khumo Ramontshona of Jwaneng Cycling Club while the ladies race went to 17-year-old, Nonofo Maswabi of Jonmol Cycling Club from Ramotswa.

The junior boys winner in the 10km race was 8-years-old, Leagilwe Sibanda of Motloutse Cycling Club from Selebi Phikwe who was the only one in the category. In the 63km senior female race, Game Mompe of Tsela Riders won. Mompe was the only woman in the category while the male went to Miguel Barata of Motloutse Cycling Club.

The under-23 134km female race went to 19-year-old, Bakang Ebudilwe of Tsela Riders who was also the only female in the category and the male was scooped by Telekelo from Jwaneng. The overall cooperate challenge 63km went to the host, Botrail Cycling Club.

For his part the chief executive officer of Botswana Railways, Dominic Ntwayagae was happy that the event was a success and applauded all who took part in the challenge, especially family members and supporters who came to give the cyclist moral support.

Ntwayagae said the race, was a way of keeping themselves healthy and busy with sport activities. The event was sponsored by First National Bank, USN refreshments and Watershed Piazza Mall. Ends