11 Feb 2014

Tsela Riders Cycling Club will host a new cycling event called the Builders World Botswana Classic 3-day Stage Race on February 21-23.

The cycling race will be the first of its kind in Botswana and will be held over three days.  A press conference was held at the Gaborone International Convention Centre on February 10 to launch the classic race.

The race will start with a time trial on Friday where cyclists compete on a one lap 4km circuit starting at Masa Centre. After that, an 84km road race will begin the following morning from Boatle to Mmankgodi.

That same afternoon, there would be a one hour circuit race at the new CBD Gaborone, followed by a 109km road race stage on the final day starting and finishing at Grand Palm.

Sunday events would include fun rides, including a kiddie’s ride, 20km corporate challenge and beginners’ race, and a 60km race.  The race is sponsored by Builders World together with their partners, Steel Junction, Trade World and Caltex.

The chairman of Tsela Riders Club, Nathan Kgabi said the race was a grassroots event targeted at low range cyclists. “It is our first event and it is difficult to invite pros, therefore, we have to start at a basic level and work our way up” he said.

He said the focus of the event would be to promote cycling in Botswana. He added that the race will be a sporting entertainment activity as it will draw families, youth, corporate and serious cyclists to compete and have fun.

Speaking on behalf of companies sponsoring the race, the director of Botswana Builders World, Imraan Sardar said they would like to be involved with sport especially cycling.

He said there had been scarce participation in promoting Botswana sports therefore, as a group of companies, they decided to change that.  They had sponsored the race with over 150 000 pula with the likelihood of the amount increasing before the race.

Tsela Riders Cycling Club had hosted race events since 2009 and their racing team had won eight races last year. A member of the club, John Bennett says they want the race to grow to heights as high as other events in the racing calendar such as the Tour De France.

With Gaborone ready to host the African Youth games in May this year, the event will promote Gaborone as an attractive and exciting venue and destination for a sporting event of that magnitude.

The race will cater for a total of 120 cyclists and is expected to attract cyclists from South Africa, Zimbabwe, Lesotho and Swaziland. ENDS