MASERU – Over 70 cyclists drawn from 11 different countries are expected to converge in Lesotho from September 23 -28 to compete in the famous Lesotho Sky Event.
sports
Sept. 19, 2019
RELEBOHILE KHOALE
3 min read
Lesotho Sky hosts first-rate cycling tourney
This year’s edition of the grueling race will be the ninth time that organisers Sky Events will be hosting the event that has since seen a total of 40 nations coming together to test their cycling prowess on Lesotho’s rugged terrain.
Contestants in the annual international show that was first launched in 2011 are drawn from Kenya, Uganda, United States of America (USA), Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Australia, Germany, South Africa and the hosting country Lesotho.
The riders will compete on a total route of 328 km with 8913m of vertical climbing that is segmented as follows: Monday; Roma loop 38,9km, Tuesday; Roma-Malealea 85km, Wednesday; Malealea Loop 36,2km, Thursday; Malealea Loop 54,35km, Friday; Malealea-Roma; 85,5km and Saturday will be the Cross-Country Lap Race.
According to the organiser of the race, Christian Schmidt, the competition started as a small event featuring only 20 participants.
But Schmidt told a press briefing on Tuesday that a major growth occurred over the years as several top riders from across the globe had been lured into the competition.
“It started as a small event but through strong partnership between riders from abroad and their local counterparts, we have managed to build a good profile of cycling in Lesotho,” said Schmidt.
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He added that the most special achievement of Lesotho sky was the launch of the Sky Cycling, which he said was the first professional cycling league in the country. Sky Cycling hosts monthly competitions at the Roma Trading Post.
Schmidt said the league started in November 2018 adding that they would be hosting the final of their first season in September as part of the Lesotho Sky Event. “The Sky Cycling League is the platform that we use to promote cycling sport, cycling culture, responsible behavior among youth and competition,” he said.
He added: “That is how we have managed to attract international competitions. For instance, 18-year-old Mosito Mohapi of Roma will represent Lesotho in the Red-Bull Pump Track World Championship final to be held in Switzerland sometime in October.
Schmidt said their plan was to expand the league to all 10 districts of Lesotho and develop youths through supporting the talented young riders. He was, however, quick to add that the move would be achieved after quite some time, adding that it would entail a lot of hard work.
“Lesotho Sky has contributed a lot in promoting adventure tourism in Lesotho. Over the past eight years, Lesotho Sky has hosted riders from 40 countries, and this has made Lesotho to be a household name in the global world of mountain biking,” he also said. Lesotho Sky events are sponsored by Alliance Insurance, Standard Lesotho Bank and Lesotho Flour Mills.The sponsors shared the same sentiment that their companies were keen to develop the sport as it showed great potential in Lesotho.
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