09 Aug 2022

 The Dimension Data Route73 Mountain Bike (MTB) challenge returns with a new race venue; Boruundi Private Lodge along the A1 road in Rasesa.

Sponsored by Dimension Data to the tune of P350 000, the race is scheduled for Saturday.

The one-day challenge will have an endless flow of single tracks, interwoven and connecting to jeep tracks as well as some wide open routes. 

It is categorised into 73km (main race), 50km, 30km (fun ride) and 5km (kiddies ride).

For the 73km race, cyclists will head south from Boruundi Private Lodge following the pipeline, traversing single tracks and going under the A1 road bridge crossing, going towards Molokwane Hill.

The hill provides more single tracks leading to gentle climbs that will require ability to handle technical ascent and descent.

Descending from Molokwane Hill, riders will head south on the east of A1, going through two surface road crossings and proceeding to the west of Metsimotlhabe Bridge.

They will then head towards Bokaa Dam where there will be a hydration point for all races.

The dam, with a tunnel-like view, passing near a body of water, with soft sand and grass, provides more cattle single tracks and manoeuvring through trees.

Riders will go in a clockwise direction inside the dam, to finally exit the dam premises on the west, in the outskirts of the village.

They will cross the Bokaa/Kopong dirt road into the bush characterised by loose gravel stones, taking right onto another jeep track going towards what has now become known as Raboiki climb.

This will mark the 35km distance of the 73km distance category. The 50km distance riders will transition from the 73km riders at the climb.

There will be a water point at 52km, for those doing 73km and another one at 66km.  The 66km water point will be used by both 73km and 50km distances, as they will meet on that part of the return leg, which will be a fast track for riders.   Paddling back to the finishing point, riders will cross the pipeline open road towards the A1 and take a left to the finish point.   By the time 73km distance is completed, one would have attained a total of just over 600 metres in elevation gain, while for 50km it will be just over 400 metres in elevation gain, all relatively flat.

Registration for the Dimension Data Route73 MTB challenge is ongoing and riders can register manually or online.

 Manual registration is done at Cycle Base and Grip Runners shops in Sebele, while online riders can use www.ucbtiming.co.bw and www.lifecycle.co.bw. The registration fee for the 73km category is P500, P300 for the 50km and P200 for the 30km fun ride.  The corporate challenge is P1 000 for a team of four.  ENDS