28 Oct 2026

Botswana Cycling Team’s performance at the African Cycling Confederation (CAC) Road Cycling African Championships in Kisumu, Kenya has been described as a learning experience with positive highlights and shortcomings.

Team coach, David Lebalelo says despite encountering individual challenges, the cyclists showed commitment to the sport and the country. 

However, Lebalelo said the highlight of the team was the exceptional performance by a youth athlete, Hope Mathiba as well as elite rider, Lobopo Kono. 

“Mathiba’s seventh place finish in the Youth Women’s Road Race and Kono’s top-10 finish in the time trial indicates promising talent in our development programme,” Lebalelo said.

He added that overall, the championships offered a realistic view of the team’s current standing and highlighting areas for improvement. 

Lebalelo said Mathiba and Kono’s performances highlighted the potential of young riders at the continental level; adding that Mathiba’s results emphasised the necessity of investing in cycling development pathway, by ensuring young talents receive support, structured training and international exposure. 

He also said their performances emphasised the importance of nurturing promising talent to facilitate their progression into elite categories.  

Therefore, Lebalelo said to improve performance for the next major cycling tour, Botswana Cycling Association (BCA) as well as the coaching team should focus on key areas such as strengthening the development pathway by establishing a structured system for early identification and preparation of promising riders. 

In light of the recent CAC road cycling performance, Lebalelo said the strategy should now shift from a competition-focused approach to long-term development.

“We have to identify promising riders early, assess their capabilities and place them on individual and collective training programmes that prepare them for the demands of continental and international competition,” he said.

 Meanwhile, Lebalelo said South Africa’s victory in the elite category by Callum Ormiston offered important lessons for Botswana’s cycling development, particularly as the national riders train and compete in South Africa regularly. 

“South Africa’s victory should encourage us to examine what they are doing effectively and identify lessons that can be adapted to Botswana’s circumstances. We should study their preparation methods, competitive exposure, race strategies and development systems,” he noted. 

Lebalelo highlighted that following the outcome of CAC 2026 road cycling championships, the focus now would be on enhancing cycling development by forming a provisional national squad engaged in structured training and regular camps. 

He said notable performances by Mathiba and Kono gave cycling sport in Botswana hope and confidence. ENDS