18 Jun 2013

After being shown a clean pair of pedals on Saturdays’ 90km Kopong Cobra road race, former champion, Nevelle Van Zyl produced a polished performance to reclaim the 50km mountain bike off road challenge the next day.

Van Zyl came to the Kopong off road epic looking for a challenge after a poor start to the season that saw him being de-crowned of the Wharic cycle challenge and the Tsela Riders challenge at the start of the 2013 season.

On Sunday, he did exceptionally well in the somewhat technically rocky single track that had been extended by a further 6km. He clocked 2 hours 50 minutes in the entire loop and just a minute ahead of Jabu Tabulane of Gaborone Cycling Club.

“I had a bunch of mechanical faults in the past and just a decline in form. My personal best in the Kobra classic was 2 hours 1 minute but due to the change in route this year, it was a bit difficult and physically challenging,” said Van Zyl.

A more tough terrain of about 6km had been added onto the old track and climbing taken off the ground by at least 130 metres. Two sections; the goat head and lion head, the latter forming part of the Lentsweletau Hill was added to the exciting track.

There was also an interesting fast section running towards the Lentsweletau dam. Tabulane who crossed the line after just 2 hours 51 minutes was impressed by his performance though he felt he still needed to do more to beat Van Zyl in the sprint finish.

Last year, Tabulane came fourth after Van Zyl, Kyle Poppleton and Seamus O’Neil had already packed their frames.  In the last 3 kilometres by the Kopong turn off, Van Zyl outpaced Tabulane to the finish line.

In the 30km section, Botswana Railways newcomer, Boipuso Masepe was crowned the overall winner.

Contacted for comment on the sidelines of the race, Gaborone Cycling Club chairperson, Peter Sikwale said they were impressed by the number of participants in this year’s race and thus looking forward to the more challenging Kalahari cycling challenge billed for the last weekend of July.  ENDS