Africa-Press – Lesotho. Leemisa Thuseho – No.1 – rated Lesotho cyclist, Phetetso Monese, teaming up with Stuart Marais from South Africa, earned Lesotho a second podium finish after securing position 2nd in the Lesotho Sky 7th annual race over the weekend.
The duo were represented the Vodacom Lesotho Team and they obtained 13.50.05 overall time, few minutes behind the champions, Mathias Flückiger and Ralph Näf, who made 13.31.05 time to take broke the record spot form Daniel Gathof and Renay Groustra who won the race with 19.47.24 last year.
Phetetso Monese and Stuart Marais managed to defend their position, but they improved on their last year time of 20.02.39. The race stated on Monday last week, and the route passed by places like Roma, Ramabanta and Semonkong where the final day was celebrated on Saturday.
Talking to Informative Sport yesterday, Monese said they were happy with their performance and mentioned that the standard of cycling in Lesotho was growing.
The tournament saw another two Lesotho cyclists, Katleho Manasi and Malefetsane Lesofe, making it to position 3 with 15.20.01 overall time. Monese said that feat indicates the growth of the sport in Lesotho.
Asked why it is that the race is always dominated by foreigners even though it originates from Lesotho, Monese disclosed that it is true they have advantage over other countries’ riders because they were born and raised in this country but he quickly pointed out that they lack funds and sponsorship to make good preparation.
“Preparations are expensive than the race, so it is hard for us to get well prepared.
Even the number of local riders in this race is decreasing and I am not sure if the sponsors are now reluctant to sponsor our teams or we are failing to search for them,” added Monese.
Lesotho Sky event founder, Christian Schmidt, told this paper that the competition was very tough this year with international professional teams from Switzerland, Germany and South Africa competing against Lesotho’s best riders.
“The 7th edition of the Lesotho Sky Event was very tough due to the weather conditions. A lot of rain fell in the course of last week and the condition of the trails was very muddy. The brand new stage 3, scheduled for Independence Day on Wednesday 4th October, had to be cancelled due to lightning.
The route of stage 4, from Roma to Malealea, had to be rerouted via Morija and Motsekuoa along the Main South, because the original route via Matsieng and up the Don’t Cough Pass was inaccessible due to flooding,” said Schmidt.
Prize money breakdown;
1st Place M 40.000, 2nd Place M 10.000, 3rd Place M 5.000, 4th Place M 4.000,5th Place M 3.000, 6th Place M 2.000, 7th Place M 1.000, 8th Place M 750, 9th Place M 500, and 10th Place M 250.
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