25 Apr 2022

The Komatsu Albert Milton 600 (AM600) Cycling challenge is expected to kick start on May 19.

The cycling challenge, which was initially a 570km ride from Gaborone to Mahalapye and finishing off in Jwaneng, will this year extend to 600km. 

Starting off in Jwaneng on May 19, the route will go through Lobatse to Gaborone on the same day and proceed to Mahalapye on May 20. 

The last leg of the race will see six females and 18 males riding back to the finish in Gaborone on May 21.

The AM600 Cycling charity ride focuses on uplifting the education and health sector in the country. 

This event’s beneficiaries include Khwee Clinic in Boteti, which will receive a maternity wing and electricity connectivity. 

Mokoboxane Primary School will also receive furniture for the children, while St Joseph Primary School will receive a library.

Speaking during a press conference in Gaborone recently, Stanbic Bank Botswana’s head of brand and marketing, Stephanie Sandridge said her company was committed to developing platforms that showcased, nurtured and celebrated talent. 

She noted that the AM600 challenge was one such platform.

As a supporting sponsor, Sandridge said the opportunity to be part of the cycling challenge would help them ensure that they were part of the dialogue and engagement from the onset.

“We will not only partake in the successes, but also delve deeper to support and understand our clients better and have a greater understanding of our communities’ social, economic and environmental needs in order to drive progress with purpose,” said Sandridge.

Chief cyclist, Albertinah Milton indicated that the projects chosen came after much deliberation and careful consideration.

“We believe health and education are the core of any nation’s success, hence we have zoomed in on these two sectors,” noted Milton.

Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA) Fund is part of the cycling challenge as per their mandate of promoting road safety. 

However, MVA CEO, Michael Tlhagwane said even though the number of cyclists involved in road accidents was not that high relative to other road users, they were beginning to be a cause for concern as recreational cycling increased in urban areas.

Tlhagwane urged all stakeholders to make the event crash-free. “I also encourage motorists to adopt positive road usage behaviour to protect and respect the right of cyclists to use the road,” he noted, further urging motorists to be cautious around cyclists not only during this event but all the time.

Tlhagwane indicated that around five cyclists countrywide were killed on the roads on annual basis. 

He said the crashes were mostly attributed to driver negligence, as well as inadequate space in the road infrastructure. 

However, he appreciated government’s efforts to widen space on some roads in the city. ends