11 Apr 2016

Revamped with Stanbic Bank’s P500 000 sponsorship for a three year period, this year's Gem Diamonds Kalahari Challenge MTB race is billed for June 10. 

The race will take place over three days, starting on June 10 with the final lap on the 12th, making a total ground coverage of 247 kilometres.

Seasmus O'Neill, the race director, said the race will start at Lions Park with the route going through Kgale past Gaborone Dam to Notwane and into Manyana.

Then will recess at the camp fire near Ranaka. Second day of the event, he said, the route will go through Nthatlhe past Mogabane Dam.

Then the riders will head into Lekgolobotlho heading to Ranaka valley and over the mountains making way to Ranaka back to the campsite.He said the last day of the race, riders will return via Lekgolobotlho then to Boatle, Ramotswa and finally back to the finishing point at Lions Park.

O'Neill stated that the race had shown growth over the years. “In the early years of the challenge, the budget was in the region of between P60 000 to P80 00 to hold the event” he said.

He announced that this year's 10th edition, will cost close to P2 million.

Amongst other changes and upgrades, O'Neill said there will be a SuperSport crew who will put together a 26 minutes highlight package to be shown on SuperSport two weeks after the event.

O'Neill also showered sponsors with praises for their generous contributions. He credited Stanbic Bank for contributing into the growth of the race.

“If it was not for our sponsors, we would not be able to hold such prestigious world class mountain bike event, the race is certainly in the top 10 mountain bike multi stage event in Southern Africa” he added.

Leina Gabaarane Stanbic's chief executive said among other many reasons for their association with Gem Kalahari challenge MTB race, he pointed out that they believe sports to an important industry in any economy.

“Sports help us deal with challenge of high youth unemployment” explained Gabaarane.

He said though Botswana is not yet fully leveraged the opportunity to make sure actually sport employs the youth. He said he is of the view that such participation and partnership will bear fruit.

Although in a small way Gabaarane said it will contribute towards getting the sporting sector in Botswana to play pinnacle role that it should in the economy in ensuring it develop the economy and reduce unemployment.

He also said the race is have been impressive, stating the fact that it is an international event which means it promotes Botswana to the world which contributes to tourism in the country.

He further said cycling Sport have grown quite significantly over the years in Botswana, saying cycling is a sport considered to be very easy on a human body and said he encourage all people to get into cycling.

“I would like to voice my plea to drivers in Botswana to say please be tolerant on cyclists on the roads. We have had far too many incidents of cyclists dying on the road because of this intolerance” pleaded Gabarane.

Therefore advising motorists to share the road with cyclists. 

He said cyclists are there not to cause any accidents but to use the road and pleaded with other motorists to share the road and exercise tolerance. Ends