12 Jun 2023

The sixth edition of the Route 73 Mountain Bike (MTB) challenge has received a P350 000 boost from Dimension Data.

Organised by Cycle4Life Cycling Club, the race challenge will be held at Boruundi Private Lodge and Campsite on August 12.

 Dimension Data Route 73 is one of the attractive MTB race events in the country with participation including cyclists from the SADC region.

The previous event attracted 215 participants, but more are expected this year.

The MTB challenge  includes distances of 73km which is the main race, 54km, 30km fun ride, corporate as well as kiddies ride.

Announcing the sponsorship recently, Dimension Data Botswana and Zambia managing director, Onnayang Marumo, said the event was a testament of their commitment to development of cycling.

“This event is a testimony of an incredible partnership that we have with Cycle4Life,” Marumo said.

She explained that the sponsorship would go towards the preparations and activities as well as prize money.

She said their belief was that they could make an impact in transforming the race using the Internet of Things adding, ‘we will be providing technology for live tracking of the riders with real-time analytics, combined with video streaming from points of interest.

Furthermore, she said the spectators would get access to the data and action on location or online through digital channels, including social media and a smartphone application, adding it would also help riders to analyse and dissect the race kilometre by kilometre.

Race coordinator, Geoffrey Phonchi, applauded Dimension Data for its contribution and commitment to supporting the race.

He said the sponsorship added value to the quality of races needed by the riders in preparation for international assignments.

Phonchi encouraged parents to support girls who showed interest in the sport, indicating that over the years the race and other MTB challenges in the country recorded less numbers of girls and women.  He said, although with no development function currently, they referred young cyclists to Lifecycle Coaching and Tuition so that they could benefit from the full training offered.

“We are not yet active in the development space at Cycle4Life Cycling Club, but we create opportunities to develop cyclists by arranging events such as these and participating in other charitable events so that anyone interested in cycling can decide which discipline they wish to take on, either road or MTB,” Phonchi stated.

The proposed prize is P129 500 to be shared by junior, Under 23, elite, veterans, masters as well as grand masters in the 73km and 54km categories.

The junior category prizes stands at P3 500, P2 500 and P1 500 for positions one, two and three respectively for both females and males.

For the U-23 both females and males in positions one to three will respectively get P4 500, P3 500 and P2 500.

The male and female veterans prize stands at P2 500 for position one, P2 000 for position two and P1 500 for third position whilst the masters prize is P2 250, P1 750 and P1 250 for positions one to three respectively.

This year, the race challenge has introduced the male and female grand masters category, which will also be acknowledged with P2 000 for first position, P1 500 position two and P1 000 for the third spot.

The elite category both female and male which is the most competitive category will have the highest prize with position one getting P8 000, position two P5 000 and position three getting P3 000.

In addition, a Motswana who reaches the finishing line first in this category will get an additional P5 000.

Registration for Dimension Data Route 73 MTB Challenge commences on June 19 online at timing.lifecycle.co.bw. ENDS