Africa-Press – Botswana. The 1 800km Trans Kalahari Corridor (TKC) cycling ride will afford two of Botswana’s elite riders, Bakang Ebudilwe and Wame Ntwayakgosi the opportunity to enhance their mental and physical strength in time for the Mountain Bike (MTB) Nationals scheduled for June.
Speaking in an interview during Day 5 of the TKC cycling ride on Sunday, the two athletes said the race would help them prepare their mindsets for the coming event as this was an endurance ride.
“This ride will definitely help my fitness level. I will be ready for the MTB nationals,” said Ebudilwe who also added that if she gets a chance for national team selection to participate at the Confederation of African Cycling (CAC) MTB African Championships XCO/XCC in Morocco in May, she would be in a proper shape.
Although the endurance ride is a first for Ebudilwe, she has previously done multiple stage races, which were equally challenging such as the just ended Absa Cape Epic and she said through the TKC cycling ride, she had learnt to work with different riders.
“It has been about commitment and concentration as well as patience as we are different riders from different backgrounds and we have to accommodate each other,” she said.
Regarding the MTB nationals coming soon, Ngwayakgosi said she believed her level of fitness would be enhanced and also with the tips she was getting from other riders, she would have an improved MTB Challenge.
“I believe I will achieve the level of mental strength I need with this endurance ride. Also, I am getting tips from professional riders from South Africa and Namibia who share with us tips on perfecting our MTB skills. So I will be ready for the nationals,” Ntwayakgosi said.
She further said the TKC cycling race had been a thrilling one especially with the climbs in South Africa as well as in Lobatse and Kanye. “But the western side of the country, from Sekoma to Metsimatala, has been a flat surface terrain. However, the challenge has been strong head winds but we are enjoying ourselves,” said Ntwayakgosi.
She said because they were different riders with different fitness levels, they accommodated each others’ strengths and levels fitness adding that they were riding at a speed that accommodated all.
She said the ride had also been made easy by cooperation and teamwork not only from riders but support team of escort and the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund, the media as well as medical team.
The riders have so far completed over 750km, riding for the promotion of safety and security of the TKC, as well as gearing for the 20th anniversary celebration of the TKC.
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