24 May 2022

Matlhogonolo Botlhole of Team Swift Cycling Club is in Zimbabwe for the Sweepers Big Ride, which starts today.

The Under 23 national champion has gone through the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) World Cycling Centre in Cape Town several times for training opportunities.

Botlhole, who will be taking part in the 100km U-23 challenge, is upbeat about his first ever race in Zimbabwe, seeing it as an ‘opportunity to race under different weather conditions and routes’.Team

Swift coach, David Lebalelo said Botlhole was invited by the Zimbabwe Cycling Federation coach, upon realising his potential.

The coach also revealed that they were preparing Botlhole for the next Olympics in 2024, adding that the challenge was also part of the preparations for other major events scheduled for the year, including national championships.

He said the club also had other training rides scheduled for Botlhole in South Africa at Suikerbosrand, as part of his development for major races.

He said they had applied for Botswana National Sport Commission’s Zebra Funding to enable preparations necessary for Botlhole to realise his Olympics dream.The 21-year-old was ranked 20th in the

U23 Men’s category of the UCI African Cycling Confederation (CAC) Road championships held in Egypt in March 2022. ENDS