Top stars a doubt for cycling race
Botswana Cycling Association (BCA) Individual Time Trials (ITT) and Team Time Trials (TTT) National Championships scheduled for Sunday in Rasesa might lose some of the top stars due to a counter attraction.
The Albert Milton (AM570) Cycling Challenge, which started yesterday, has attracted top cyclists, who were expected to participate at the ITT/TTT championships. The AM570 event ends on Saturday.
According to information reachingMmegi Sport, the organisers of AM570 had suggested that the time trial should be postponed in order to allow cyclists time to recover.
However, BCA vice president Kagiso Pelopedi said they do not expect any challenges as the AM570 ends on Saturday.
“There is scheduling of the championships followed by extensive consultations with clubs,” Pelopedi said.
ITT defending champion, Abeng Malete of Jwaneng Cycling Club said he was undecided about participating in the Sunday event. He said the main reason was because of his participation in the AM570.
“We have not made a decision whether to compete or not because I have a charity event starting tomorrow (Thursday),” he said.
Malete said it has been a bad year when it comes to participating in races because of the lockdown. He said as it stands, lockdowns did not only affect cycling but also the entire sport codes globally.
Malete recently won the Vunani Fund Managers Series race, which was held in Rasesa.“I am currently in a good shape and winning Vunani was an indication. So, if we decide to compete in the national championship, I would give it a shot,” he said. Top women’s rider Bakang Ebudilwe of Tsela Riders was also participating in the AM570 race, which throws her participation in the national championships in doubt. She also recently dominated the Vunani Fund Managers Series clocking 3:00:13:9 ahead of Nonofo Maswabi of Jwaneng and Naomi Sephekolo of Tsela with 3:18:16:4 and 3:57:33:5 respectively. Ebudilwe is hopeful of qualifying for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
It was unclear if Tefo Kalubi of BotsRail who is the national championship juniors defending champion would be part of the ITT/TTT race. The ITT/ TTT is divided into youth, juniors, Under-23 elite and masters.