20 May 2024

Matlhogonolo Botlhole of Swift Cycling Club claimed his first elite victory in the Botswana Cycling Association (BCA) Road National Champion on Sunday.

 His team also dominated the podium, emerging victorious in the men elite category, with Gontse Lethokwe coming in second with a time of 3:32:33.3 and Thabiso Mokalake in third position clocking 3:32:33.6. 

While Lethokwe and Mokalake are accustomed to being the elite superstars, this time they supported their team member Botlhole to his maiden elite category success, perhaps on team orders. 

The 23-year-old Botlhole crossed the line all smiles with his position not under any threat with a 140km finish of 3:32:29. Botlhole has been working on his elite category over the years whilst competing in Under-23 elite category. 

“I was always calculating their fitness and strength and established where I need to work hard to beat them,” said Botlhole who just came back from Lesotho where he was at a training camp. 

He also competed at the just ended Windhoek Tour where he finished top 10 general classification. Botlhole has been part of the winning team, crowned road champion since he entered the Under-23 category. 

He has also competed excellently outside the country in races in Zimbabwe as well as South Africa, registering best times and displaying sterling performance. 

Team Swift also claimed the Under-23 podium finish in Thebeyame Ruele who clocked 140km distance with 3:32:47 to be crowned the national Under-23 champion. Mpho Kgothatso from Morupule Cycling Club came in second with 4:45:07. 

Meanwhile, the ladies elite category of 90km was won by Wame Ntwayakgosi of Jonmol Cycling Club after an exciting sprint between her and Nonofo Maswabi of Jwaneng Cycling Club. The sprint ended in a crash as the two bumped into each other trying to find space to cross the finish line first. 

They clocked 2:46:16 time finish, however the sprint edged out Maswabi and Ntwayakgosi was declared the women’s road national champion and Maswabi settled for second position. 

Lobopo Kono of Tsela Riders came in third position with a time of 2:48:03. 

First timers in their categories, Myra Mantle and Ryna Kenaope also performed well clocking 3:11:14 and 3:13:18 respectively making them female junior road national champion and runner up. 

Recapping on the event, the BCA president Kagiso Potongwane said the road nationals were a success as expected, as they did everything according to plan. 

However, they experienced a slight issue in the 140km race distance where there was a confusion in the designated turning point. 

However, Potongwane said the matter was being handled by the race director while BCA would await the report. “A decision will be made if there are any issues that need to be addressed,” he said. ENDs