23 Sep 2019

Tsela Riders cyclist, Lebopo Mompe was capped the 2019 Mokolodi Scorpion Cycling Challenge Junior champion on September 22 at Gaborone.

In an interview after his victory, the cyclist attributed consistent training for his triumph.

Mompe won the 36km Junior category mountain bike race champion in 1:27:06 seconded by Bakang Mokodi with 1:35:35. 

Mompe said athletes should engage in regular training to avoid struggling during the race. He said some cyclists only train when they were aware of an upcoming competition.

That, he said could affect their performance.

“With regular training a race becomes easy to tackle, hence the guys could not stick up to me,” he said.

About the race, Mompe said he achieved his goal of having the fastest distance time.

“I had intentions of going in hard from the start because my coach has been giving me training programmes as groundwork towards this race,” said Mompe.

Meanwhile, the 56km elite men’s category was won by Gontse Molefe in 2:20:51.

“My intention was to finish the race in two hours and cut the 20 minutes, but I got lost”, said Molefe.

 He said his plan was to work hard and improve on his finish time so that he makes a podium finish not only in Botswana but in regional and continental races.

Apart from the hills and rocks, which are a playground in mountain bike (MTB) races, Molefe said the Mokolodi Scorpion challenge was an experience like other MTBs.

Molefe, who was part of All African Games cycling team, said there was need to professionalise cycling in Botswana.

“I observed that riders in other countries are professionals and if the same was afforded to us, we would be able to match their performance and even do better,” he said.

Gaborone Cycling Club chairperson, Seamus O’Neil was happy with the event, though they did not record the number of riders they had anticipated.

O’Neil noted that they had about 100 riders and 65 runners. Mokolodi Scorpion challenge is a trail and run challenge with four categories of 56km MTB race, 36km MTB race, 10km trail and 5km social walk.

O’Neil applauded the 56km and 36km results for the top three saying they recorded improved results than last year’s. He said they plan to expand the trail running side of the event so as to attract more participants.

The 56km ride did not have women riders and O’Neil indicated that ‘there have not been a lot of ladies riding the endurance MTB and it is a concern’. Ends