04 Dec 2015

Cycling continues to grow with more women also coming on board to take part in competitions. Cycling teams and individuals participated in the national time trial championships at Rasesa.

The cycling competitions are held annually to measure athlete’s performance and to help select the national team.

In  an interview,  the secretary general of Botswana Cycling Association, Tlamelo Dude said they hold the road race, mountain bike race and time trials annually.

Dube said the time trials race was a success as U-19 and U-23 teams that participated were competitive and that attendance was overwhelming.

He said the most interesting part was the fact that more ladies participated as compared to other years.

He also said the time trials number of teams improved as compared to of last year.

He said in the upcoming competition, they look forward to competing at the Mountain Biking Continental Championships to be in January in Lesotho, and the road race champs in Morocco also next year.

Dube noted that they were faced with challenges such as not having long term partners to support the sport. He added that they need sponsors because they never reward athletes and instructors.

He said in competitions held in Botswana the same people compete yearly, adding that the country was flat hence the need to bring in outside athletes to compete with the locals to give them more skills and competition. 

He noted that much growth was needed in areas of administration, coaching and athletes knowing what to do and what not to do.

He said this year’s cycling calendar was busy as they started in South Africa where three Botswana athletes took part and managed to finish their races. He said they also went to the Congo were they sent one athlete.

He thanked club members for supporting and providing manpower and committee members for working hard to insure every event became a success. He also applauded the Botswana National Sports Commission for making the championships a success.

He acknowledged the sponsors which include Botswana Railways, Medswana and Kumatsu who were the main sponsors for the last two events.

Dube noted that two young women, Bonno Motlhetlhi of Jonmol and Promise Ntshese of Botrail, bothe aged 18 years were sent to South Africa for a one month training camp, and that they did well as they scooped position one in the team competition they participated in, adding that it was key to develop young girls. 

Participating teams included senior men with Bernardo Ayuso scooping position one on race number 43, followed by Boipuso Masopo on position two in race number nine and Thabo Pono in position three in race 106.

In the under 23 men category, position one went to Masepe Sethomo in race number 23 while Lulu Telekelo took position two in race number 52 while Masimo James took position three in race 47.

In the senior ladies category, Anouk Van Der Geest scooped position one under race number 53 while Bakang Ebudilwe took position two under race number 18 and Pelopedi Kagiso took position three  under race number 17. Ends