Foreign cyclists arrive for Botswana Classic

Calistus Kolantsho | Friday February 21, 2014 15:29

 

In the trial time cyclists will compete in a one four-kilometre lap starting at Masa Centre. The event will be followed by an 84 kilometre road race tomorrow at Boatle/Mmankgodi junction, then an hour circuit race in the new Gaborone CBD in the afternoon.

The final race is the 109 kilometre road race on Sunday, starting and finishing at the Grand Palm hotel.  One of the organisers, Ed Lambart, told Mmegi Sport that they had expected riders from Swaziland and Mozambique. However, he said Mozambique riders informed them that they could not make it because they received the invitation late.  He was still to confirm the number of foreign riders at the time of going to press.

Builders World sponsors the race for a hefty amount of P235, 000.

Lambart said the response from local riders was slow but they expected riders to register in numbers today. 

He said the Sunday event would include several fun rides, including a kid’s ride, 20 kilometres corporate challenge and beginners race and a 60 kilometre race.  He said that the maximum number of entrants is 120 and 60 places will be reserved for Botswana citizens and residents.  The winner in the women’s category will walk away with P9, 000, second prize is P4,000 and the third prize is P2, 000. The prizes are the same for men. Lambart said the individual entry fee is P400 and teams of four will have to part with P1, 250.