02 Nov 2023

 

 A bicycle race for children aged 16 years and below will take place on November 4 morning, at the Gaborone Rugby Club.

The Paratus Bike Shredders Challenge, a four part series kiddies cycling race, will see children participating in the 20km, 10km and 5km distances. It gives children experience and allows them to embrace the sport of cycling.

“Giving children the chance to ride is a great way of increasing participation in the sport and ensuring continued support in the future.

 It also enables children to practice cycling skills, which can then be used when they are older not only on cycling competition, but to get to school, for leisure, and to be more independent,” said the race organiser, Gobona Mantle. About 60 children are expected to take part in this race.

Mantle said they would be seeing some young shredders taking their last kiddies’ pedal as they will be graduating to the junior level category where they will now be competing in intense races, even at national level.

“It is always a bitter-sweet moment when we see our kids graduate from kiddies to junior. At the same time, it gives us the confidence that we had groomed them to be the best,” she said. Mantle, also a cycling coach and founder of Lifecycle Bicycle Coaching and Tuition, said next year, they would like to see more schools coming on board and Batswana supporting the kiddies cycling event initiative.

“This is an initiative, which is child-friendly and also encourages physical wellness for children,” Mantle noted. She commended the sponsors of the race, Paratus Botswana, and said they hope the partnership grows, as well as wished more sponsors come on board.

She said more sponsors would ensure more participation and make the event appealing, and even accommodate the safety aspect and management that needs to be considered when dealing with kids. Registration for the Shredders Challenge is P180 per child and can be done online at www.timing.lifecycle.co.bw. ENDS