SOUTH African born rider and Lesotho Sky event co-founder, Darol Howel who is now based in Switzerland will ride in his first ever Lesotho Sky Event on a bicycle during the 10th edition of the race on Monday, September 20 after spending the previous years as the director of this big cycling race in Lesotho.

One of the event organisers, Chris Schmidt of Sky Events told Metro that they have been given the go ahead by the Ministry of Health to host the race, adding that due to a confirmed COVID-19 case in the timing crew this week, the organisers resolved that this year’s edition will proceed as a non-competitive event behind closed doors with a small field of 20 local and international riders expected at the start on Monday in Malealea.  

In a statement released on Tuesday, Schmidt said the majority of international riders has postponed to next year due to travel restrictions. He also said the six-day event will run until Saturday, with Alliance Insurance being the main sponsor.

“Pick n Pay Maseru is the Waterpoint sponsor while Malealea Lodge and Semonkong Lodge are accommodation partners.  

“The event comprises a total of 30 participants inclusive of the crew from hosts Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, United Kingdom, United States of Amerika (USA), Germany and Switzerland. The total route is 246 km long with 7500m of vertical climbing and broken down into five stages such that the riders will start with the 49.5 km loop from Malealea to Matelile for two days until Tuesday, followed by a 53.2km loop from Malealea to Ribaneng on Wednesday, before taking the 44.7 km route from Semonkong to Eastern on Friday then finish with the 39.4 km route from Semonkong to ’Maletsunyane on Saturday,” Schmidt noted.  

He further highlighted that this year’s edition will mark the shortest route ever for the event, adding it is however much tougher due a higher amount of technical demanding trails and less gravel road.