KWANELE WINS FIRST RACE OF THE SEASON

SIPHOFANENI - 4Eva Cycling Club’s Kwanele Jele proved to be the strongest in the 90km race, finishing well ahead of second-placed Muzi Shabangu.

This took place during yesterday’s inaugural race for Darkton Cycling Club, which saw a healthy number of participating cyclists from both Eswatini and South Africa.

Jele, on the other hand, highlighted that he was well-prepared for the race, noting that he had been earmarked for two races in South Africa, but could not attend due to conflicting reasons.

“I missed two races in South Africa due to certain conflicts; I was preparing for those races, and this race found me in training for them. I can feel myself returning to form,” expressed Jele.

He further mentioned that the race itself was not particularly challenging, although there was some good competition, stating that he had to ride smart.

“I didn’t have a race plan, but what I had in mind was that I needed to win after I missed the Treetops race. I am very happy to have won the first race of the season,” he added.

Jele also shared that the route was perfect for him because there were fewer climbs compared to the flat sections, where he excels.

“This was how I was able to drop Muzi, as he is not as efficient on the flats. I had to pull away from him when we reached the flat sections because that is where my strength lies,” explained Jele.

He concluded by mentioning that despite the weather conditions, it was a great day for racing, adding that even at Mhlume, where the Kusekhaya Invitational is held, they race under such conditions.

Meanwhile, in the women’s 90km event, Eswatini National Road Champion Nontsikelelo Mdlovu was narrowly beaten for pole position by Mandiswa Fakudze.

This was a very tactical race, with both cyclists needing a sprint finish to determine the winner, Fakudze.

In her remarks, Fakudze stated that it was her intention to beat Mdlovu, which is why she was focused from start to finish of the inaugural race.

Ladies

“I am young; firstly, I have been competing against elite cyclists. By entering this category, I aimed to encourage young ladies to participate as well,” expressed Fakudze.

She further indicated her desire to progress in the sport, stating that she aspires to compete internationally.

“The secret for me is to train hard; the harder it gets, the easier it will be on race day. Suffer and you will see results,” she remarked.

Meanwhile, Sifiso Zwide Ndwandwe, the Founder and Director of Darkton Cycling Club, expressed his gratitude to the cyclists who signed up for the event.

“It’s been an exciting experience for the club organising the race and we’ll take the lessons learnt here into account for the next one,” stated Zwide.

He also acknowledged the media as excellent partners in this endeavour, expressing appreciation for the ongoing coverage they provided.

Ndwandwe extended his thanks to all the partners and sponsors who supported the event, highlighting their invaluable assistance.

He concluded by confirming that they would definitely be hosting the event again next year.

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