06 Dec 2021

Team Swift riders this weekend won Botswana Cycling Association (BCA) Individual Time Trial (ITT) and Road Race National Championships for Unde 23 and Elite categories.

The trio of trio Matlhogonolo Botlhole, Lloyd Molale and Gontse Lethokwe came with a plan to own the races held in Rasesa.

Botlhole recorded a time of 58:55 for a 42km course in the Under 23 category ITT, finishing 37 seconds faster than his runner up Karabo Bathuleng of Morupule Cycling club whilst Tsela Riders’ Lebopo Mompe came in third with a time of 1:02:13.

Lethokwe registered his first ever road race championship jersey finishing two seconds ahead of Molale in the Elite category posting a good 2:59:55 and 2:59:57 respectively in the 120km stretch, whilst Botlhole stamped his first Under23 jersey in the National Road Race championships clocking 2:59:56 for a 120km course.

“Our strategy was to attack in pairs and forced other teams to chase the breakaway. We had a few attacks on the way but three attacks did not work for us and we established a good gap by sending our Under 23, Botlhole to take lead,” Molale explained after the race, adding that together with Lethokwe they used the opportunity to attack for a solid five minutes, leaving their competitors behind to win as a team.

“I have never put more work on road races like I do on mountain bike races, but today’s race is an indication that I can even do better on road just like in mountain biking,” said all-time Mountain Bike Champion Lethokwe.

Lethokwe said he would also be focusing and participating on road races going forward.

Botlhole, who joined Team Swift from JonMol Cycling, said he was grateful to both clubs for having shaped and improved his performance.

“It is amazing to work as a team and in pairs as we did today,” said Botlhole adding that he made a swift decision to join another team as he believed it would grow him.

Four times national road champion, Abeng Malete of Jwaneng Cycling Club, could not defend his title as he dropped out of the race unexpectedly.

“Cycling is a team sport and I did not have team mates to work with to win this race. My opponents had a strategy as a team and I was not going to settle for anything other than a win,” said the disappointed Malete.

“Dropping out did not have anything to do with being unfit, but I did not have a strong team,” he added.

Comparing this year’s ITT and road race championships with previous, BCA secretary general, Shimane Serameng, said the turnout was pleasing particularly the ITT that normally did not attract many riders.

He said the performance was much better than in the past years despite the tough year riders had.

“With this great performance, we are certain of a competitive national team,” Serameng noted, adding that they were impressed that riders were competitive, meaning that they had been training in the absence of races.

Meanwhile, BCA will hold a Mountain Bike race National Championships on December 12 in Gaborone. ENDS