01 Sep 2016

Road bikers will, on Sunday, slug it out in the annual Mascom cycling challenge 120km spectacle.

The cycling expedition, one of the flagship events in the cycling calendar, will also include a 60km trail, 20km fun ride and a spinnathon.

A close tie is expected to unfold as the likes of Lulu Telekelo, James Masimo, Thato Madimabe and Kyle Poppleton amongst others vie for top honours.

Undoubtedly, all the competitors will take hope from the absence of perennial road race champion Bernardo Ayuso who is in Spain for his professional bouts.

A defiant Madimabe explained that he will fight for pole position against this tough opposition. Although his strength lies in off-road cycling, Madimabe will have to prove to his competitors that his recent Mokolodi Scorpion challenge victory was no fluke.

Jwaneng cycling club’s enterprising rider Telekelo remains the other hope to arrive at the finish line first after a disappointing spell last year that saw him relegated to the second spot.

Tsela Riders veteran rider Poppleton is another medal hopeful in the open section. 

He may have to rely on his occasional frantic chases in uphill slopes to put the game beyond reach of his closest rivals. 

His technique nearly paid off last year, but was too little too late to corner his opponents to the finish line.

Other interesting riders lined up for the Sunday’s race are Aleck Mudzariri, Tebogo Bosilong and sensational ladies rider Bakang Ebudilwe.

The route starts at the Airport Junction’s Pylon Park up to Rasesa village. 

The race that starts at 7am is the brainchild of Sebele based cycling team Tsela Riders and this is the second edition of the race under the auspices of mobile service providers Mascom Wireless.

In an interview earlier this week, chairperson of the club Charles Vaughan said they were impressed by the level of commitment from both the sponsors and the riders who have already registered in pleasing numbers.

The race is the second longest road race after the Botswana Cycling Association (BCA) sanctioned 160km road national championships. 

This year the sponsorship of the race stands at over P184 000 and at least 300 bikers are expected to hit the road running. ENDS