Africa-Press – Botswana. Passion for cycling, love and commitment to supporting children and their well-being has seen First Lady Neo Masisi gracing the Paratus Bike Shredders Challenge, a children’s mountain bike (MTB) race at Kgale Hill over the weekend.
Organised by Lifecycle Bicycle Coaching and Tuition, the Paratus Bike Shredders Challenge is a four series race event, which goes back to 2017.
Over the years it has attracted fewer children, but gained momentum with this year’s first race, attracting over 60 children.
Commenting on First Lady’s attendance, organiser and owner of Lifecycle Bicycle Coaching and Tuition, Gobona Mantle, expressed gratitude.
She said Masisi’s visit was not only an inspiration and encouragement for children, but it showed her great support.
“Her love for kids is nurturing and shows her commitment to the welfare of children to encourage them to live healthy. And her support for cycling is an empowerment to us women,” Mantle said.
Masisi has used cycling to fight gender based violence and also to raise health awareness.
She has in the past participated in the AM600 Cycling Charity Challenge, Khoemacau Lake Ngami Cycle Classic; all road races, among other cycling race events.
“We hope and wish for her to grace and ride the MTB routes so that she also has a feel of the MTB discipline,” Mantle further said the First Lady’s interest in the cycling sport is an inspiration to the women and parents to support their children, not only in cycling, but all sporting codes.
Paratus Bike Shredders Challenge had children 16 years and younger participating in the 20km, 10km and 5km distance. Mantle said children were allowed to choose any distance they preferred, adding that the youngest rider was below five years.
“The race has been growing steadily and we had a good turn out this year,” she added. A Union Cycliste International (UCI) Coach level 1 and 2, she noted that the number of participating children showed an interest on the cycling sport, particularly the MTB discipline, however difficult it was. “We make it a competitive ride for the children because we want them to value the sport more. And we teach them to ride on more technical and advanced routes, while still young, not just on simple jeep tracks,” she said.
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