The inaugural Mascom Cycle Challenge will kick off this coming Sunday, with many local cyclists expected to grace the event. The race, which is organised by Tsela Riders, is sponsored by Mascom Wireless, as title sponsors, together with Khumo Properties and Kgalagadi Breweries Limited (KBL).
According to Tsela Riders Chairperson Game Mompe, the organisers have targeted between 200 and 300 cyclists to take part in the inaugural event. Speaking in an interview, the Tsela Riders Chairperson said registration for the race has been ongoing and will close this Friday, a time they expect to have reached their targeted number of participants. While expecting local cyclists to register in large numbers, Mompe further added that invitations have also been sent to neighbouring countries. “At the moment, we cannot confirm if there will be any foreign cyclists or if any will compete in the race but we are hopeful some will come,” the Tsela Riders Chairperson says.
As title sponsors, Mascom Wireless will bring close to P90 000 worth of sponsorship to the event. Of this, P70 000 will come as cash sponsorship and will go towards logistical costs such as timing system, finishers’ medals, administration costs as well as prizes. The remaining P20 000 worth of sponsorship will come in kind in the form of branded merchandise and advertisements. According to Mompe, the inaugural Mascom Cycle Challenge will be divided into five (5) categories, namely the 100km Elite Race, 60km Fun Ride, 60km Corporate Challenge, 20km Beginners’ Race as well as the Kiddies Race. “All the races will take place along the A1 road and will start and end at the Airport Junction Mall near Town Lodge Hotel.
The only difference will be the distance each category riders will do along the A1 road,” the Tsela Riders Chairperson. “From Airport Junction, the 100km Elite riders will ride to Rasesa, where they will ride two loops in the village before returning back to Airport Junction which is the finishing point,” the Tsela Riders Chairperson explained. Concerning the other races, Mompe said the 60km riders will only go as far as Bokaa Traffic lights and return to the finish point while the 20km riders will only go as far as the Engen Filling Station near Mmamashia.
According to the organisers, the winner of the men’s Elite 100km race will take home a P1 500 cash prize, while the runner up and third place will get P1 250 and P750 respectively. The winner of the ladies’ 100km on the other hand will pocket P1 250, while the second and third placed riders will walk away with P1000 and P750 in successive order. The prize monies will however be the same for the male and female junior 100km categories, where winners as well as second and third placed riders will get P750, P500 and P400 respectively. There will also be cash prizes for all other categories, which include sub veterans, veterans, masters and the 60km open.
The winners, runners up and third placed riders in all the categories will walk away with P500, P450 and P400 across the categories. According to Mompe, registration for the race can be done at Cycle Base and The Bike Shop. She said to register for the 100km Elite race, a registration fee of P200 will be required, while P150 registration fee will be needed for the 100km junior race. The 60km race will carry a P150 registration fee while P75 will be needed to register for the 20km race.