New cycling league gains momentum

NTHAKO MAJORO

MASERU – A new cycling competition dubbed Sky League gains momentum this Saturday as the second edition of the monthly series contest takes off in Roma.

Officially announcing the league at a press briefing in Maseru on Tuesday, Lesotho Sky founder Christian Schmidt said the first stanza of the cycling monthly bonanza kicked off on January 26.

“We kicked-off our first league race in January 26 and our upcoming events will be held on March 26, June 22, July 27, August 31 and September 28 as final round of the competition,” Schmidt said.

He added: “Sky League is part of the Lesotho Sky, meaning all the riders who participate in the Lesotho Sky can also compete in the Sky League”.

The league is divided into different categories, the cross-country, pump-track and the marathon.

On behalf of the league managers, Sky Gate Tours and Adventures, Tumelo Makhetha described pump track as a relatively new sport, which is both physically challenging and exciting.

The marathon category Makhetha said is not so different from the annual Lesotho Sky Race – one of the biggest international events in the world.

“The marathon is basically similar to the Lesotho Sky. It is an equally long distance,” he also said.

The three categories of the race are open to both male and female riders in both the senior and junior sections.

Makhetha said competitors would accumulate points with the top three finalists in each group standing a chance to win prizes at the end of the season.

“Another important thing worth noting is that 30 top riders will accumulate points and the top three in each category will collect awards and prizes at the end of the competition.”