20 Oct 2020

The Central Business District (CBD) in Gaborone will on Sunday be a place to go when Team Swift Cycling club hosts criterium bike race, among other activities

The criterium race would include a series of races such as the individual time trials (ITT) and road race.

The races would be one hour apart from  6 a.m. 

Criterium is a bicycle race on a closed circuit less than a kilometer in length where cyclists complete multiple laps. 

Depending on category, race distances may vary between 25 and 50 kilometers in length. These two races, according to Team Swift coach, David Lebalelo, would give riders a competitive spirit after 10 months of inactive competition. 

He said riders had been training hard, despite restrictions. 

Following other races by Tsela Riders and LifeCycle events, the races would offer riders an opportunity to test themselves.

“A criterium is a challenging race,” said Lebalelo explaining that the stop and start as a result of the cornering of the nature of the race, required a lot of strength and energy from riders. 

He said because of the limited time of an hour, the race would be exhausting for the riders, therefore  level of fitness would come handy.

Furthermore, Lebalelo said in order to comply with COVID-19 protocols, the last two riders to cross the start/finish line in every lap would be pulled out of the peloton to reduce the numbers as well as enhance competition.

The criterium and ITT would be held at the CBD because of the good loops identified within the area.

 “The three chiefs monument area offers an excellent start/finish point because of its adequate open space and the place will also allow the required social distancing when riders are off the bike,” said Lebalelo.

He noted that because of less traffic on Sundays, CBD would provide a smooth and safe race for the riders.

The last series of the race would take place on November 8 and 29 in Gaborone. 

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