17 Sep 2013

Cycling enthusiasts from across all age groups on Sunday converged in Jwaneng for the General Manager’s Cycle Race, which generated over P300 000.

The race, which started in 2004, was intended to encourage the community to use cycling as a form of exercise while at the same time raising funds for charity organisations. The Sunday event was categorised by different races including 100km, 35km, teams and children’s races ranging from four to 13 years.

Botswana Railways cycling club scoped position one in the 100km race through Boipuso Masepe, who alluded his win to intensive training sessions prior to the race. Masepe said in an interview that even though he was nervous at the beginning of the race, he managed to break from the crowd two kilometres on the way back to the finishing point.

“I did not experience any challenges save for the strong wind that was working against us,” he explained. Coming in second position, Christopher Moloi of Tsela Riders club said even though he had not been training well, his team managed to give him the necessary support to win.

He said cycling was noticeably growing in Botswana and its level of professionalism was also improving. “I am happy about the race and I see that cycling is going professional and there is growth as well,” he said.

However, Bright Chipongo from Fit Freaks club in Zimbabwe who came in third position said even though he was well prepared for the race, his competitors outnumbered his two-member team. That, he noted, made him isolated and hence had to work extra hard to cover up for the team.

“Due to financial constraints we could not bring many team members to participate in this race and therefore the other teams outnumbered us because we were only two. Also this is not my terrain, I am mainly a climber so I could have done better if we were going up a cliff,” he explained.

The ladies 100km race was won by Deborah Baley, followed by Lesego Ramocha in second position and Albertinah Milton in third position, while the 35 km race was won by 17-year-old Losika Kelaotswe in the male category and Anuik Vyndegist in the female category.

Speaking at the prize awarding ceremony, Botswana Cycling Association president, Mmetla Masire said the race was part of Debswana’s Corporate Social Investment (CSI) from which it intended to leave a legacy for the communities it operated within.

Masire said that was a noble cause, thus encouraged people to support it in any way possible because it would benefit many members of the society. He acknowledged the support that the private sector has been rendering since the race commenced in 2004.

He also encouraged the cycling community to work together to ensure that their sport grew in leaps and bounds. “The only way for the cycling community to survive is for different clubs to come together and organise similar events. We need a full calendar of events to give cyclists the opportunity to keep being engaged,” he said.

Jwaneng general manager, Albert Milton, who also participated in the 100km race revealed that the bulk of the money raised at the event would go towards Mpule Kwelagobe Children’s Centre.

Milton, however, noted that other organisations in Jwaneng and surroundings would also benefit. He said it was worth noting that cycling was experiencing some growth, with more young Batswana participating each year. He noted that even though the race had been out since 2008, it was now back and bigger.Ends