05 Sep 2016

Zimbabwean cyclist, Nkulumo Dube is this year’s Mascom Cycling challenge champion after completing 120 kilometres in the elite race with an impressive 03:00:08 on Sunday.
The cycling expedition, one of the flagship events in the local cycling calendar, featured a 60km trail, 20km fun ride and a spinnathon.
The physically taxing route started at the Airport Junction Pylon Park up north to the Mosaditshwene turn-off.
Dube’s impressive run was buoyed by the absence of local sensation road biker, Bernardo Ayuso who is back in Spain for his professional races.
A seemingly elated Dube could not hide his excitement at the end of the 120km race.
The Zimbabwean rider has been trying his luck in the race but met fierce competition from local riders. Dube admitted that the race was competitive and applauded his teammate, who held on to the frantic chase posed by the likes of Lulu Telekelo and Botswana Railways rising star, Amogelang Thwabi who came in the second and third spot respectively.
Once again, victory eluded Telekelo who has been having a sterling performance in long distance road races.
Last year, the youngster fell seconds shy off the finish line as Ayuso stormed to a perfect finish ahead of him.
He failed to shrug off the heavily built Dube who kept his cool on their way back from the Mosaditshwene U-turn.
The hosts, Tsela Riders’ veteran cyclist, Anouk Vand1er Geest became the first lady to go beyond the finish line with another good record of 03:00:16.
The tried and tested cyclist earlier this year led the ladies national cycling team to Lesotho for the UCI Mountain Bike Africa Continental Championships.
She led the pack at the beginning of the first lap but fatigue caught up when the race got to its peak.  Natalie Cloete came agonisingly second.
In the 120km junior race, Thuso Letlhare of Morupule was crowned the overall champion while Tshepo Sentsho and Dimpho Mosi followed closely in the second and third spot respectively. The race which is in its second edition, is the brainchild of Sebele-based cycling team Tsela Riders under the auspices of mobile service providers, Mascom Wireless.
It is the second longest road race after the Botswana Cycling Association (BCA) sanctioned 160km road national championships. Mascom sponsored the event for P184 741. ENDS