Botswana’s sensational cyclist, Gontse Lethokwe makes history as the first Motswana to claim victory at the gruelling Dimension Data Route 73 MTB Challenge. In a dazzling display of skill and determination, Lethokwe dominated the 73km race, crossing the finish line first and shattering the South African stranglehold on local cycling events.
The race, which was organized by Cycle for life Club in collaboration with the main sponsors, Dimension Data Botswana, saw cyclists from across the region take on the challenge across different categories, with the 73km main race being the crown jewel at Stay Well Gardens over the weekend.
In a photo-finish that had spectators on the edge, Lethokwe edged out his South African rival by few seconds, crossing the line with a triumphant scream and fist pump that electrified the crowd. The two cyclists had been neck and neck throughout the race, with the final sprint to the finish line being the decisive moment that sealed Lethokwe's victory.
Lethokwe, beaming with pride, shared his victory mindset with SUN SPORT immediately after the race, “I knew the competition was going to be tough, especially with the foreign cyclists in the mix. But I was determined to change the narrative and show that Batswana can compete with the best. I came here with a mission, and I'm thrilled to have accomplished it. The win is sure to inspire many locals to take up cycling and challenge the dominance of foreign riders," he declared.
To prepare for the race, Lethokwe trained on the route countless times, mastering every curve and turn. He reflected, “I knew every inch of that course, and I worked hard to develop a strategy that would give me an edge. My hard work and preparation paid off. I knew exactly what to expect and how to respond,” he said. He mentioned that during training, his best time was 3 hours and 20 minutes and improved on the day of the race to record 3 hours 16 seconds, which is huge.
“I strategized around the difficult parts of the course, and then pushed myself hard on the easier stretches. I'm super proud of my performance, it just goes to show that if you believe in yourself and put in the work, anything is possible,” Lethokwe narrated. Despite facing tough terrain with rocky hills, he persevered and made-up ground on the flat stretches, “I wasn’t fast on the hills, and I was quicker on the flats surface," he said.
Meanwhile, the sponsor of the race, Dimension Data Managing Director Onnayang Marumo was over the moon about the turnout and the fact that they managed to introduce tracking and analytics to the race. She mentioned that the data gathered was valuable for both riders and spectators.
Marumo was thrilled that the event was well-attended and saw it as a testament to the popularity of the race and the importance of incorporating technology into the event. “We are super impressed with how smoothly the event went. As sponsors, seeing so many people come out to support the sport is really gratifying. Next year, we're hoping to see even more participation from women and youth, it’s important to us that this event is inclusive and accessible to everyone.
We're committed to making it happen,” she explained. She emphasized the importance of community support of corporates, stating that with continued community backing; corporations can give back in meaningful ways and help strengthen the community.
The race, which was organized by Cycle for life Club in collaboration with the main sponsors, Dimension Data Botswana, saw cyclists from across the region take on the challenge across different categories, with the 73km main race being the crown jewel at Stay Well Gardens over the weekend.
In a photo-finish that had spectators on the edge, Lethokwe edged out his South African rival by few seconds, crossing the line with a triumphant scream and fist pump that electrified the crowd. The two cyclists had been neck and neck throughout the race, with the final sprint to the finish line being the decisive moment that sealed Lethokwe's victory.
Lethokwe, beaming with pride, shared his victory mindset with SUN SPORT immediately after the race, “I knew the competition was going to be tough, especially with the foreign cyclists in the mix. But I was determined to change the narrative and show that Batswana can compete with the best. I came here with a mission, and I'm thrilled to have accomplished it. The win is sure to inspire many locals to take up cycling and challenge the dominance of foreign riders," he declared.
To prepare for the race, Lethokwe trained on the route countless times, mastering every curve and turn. He reflected, “I knew every inch of that course, and I worked hard to develop a strategy that would give me an edge. My hard work and preparation paid off. I knew exactly what to expect and how to respond,” he said. He mentioned that during training, his best time was 3 hours and 20 minutes and improved on the day of the race to record 3 hours 16 seconds, which is huge.
“I strategized around the difficult parts of the course, and then pushed myself hard on the easier stretches. I'm super proud of my performance, it just goes to show that if you believe in yourself and put in the work, anything is possible,” Lethokwe narrated. Despite facing tough terrain with rocky hills, he persevered and made-up ground on the flat stretches, “I wasn’t fast on the hills, and I was quicker on the flats surface," he said.
Meanwhile, the sponsor of the race, Dimension Data Managing Director Onnayang Marumo was over the moon about the turnout and the fact that they managed to introduce tracking and analytics to the race. She mentioned that the data gathered was valuable for both riders and spectators.
Marumo was thrilled that the event was well-attended and saw it as a testament to the popularity of the race and the importance of incorporating technology into the event. “We are super impressed with how smoothly the event went. As sponsors, seeing so many people come out to support the sport is really gratifying. Next year, we're hoping to see even more participation from women and youth, it’s important to us that this event is inclusive and accessible to everyone.
We're committed to making it happen,” she explained. She emphasized the importance of community support of corporates, stating that with continued community backing; corporations can give back in meaningful ways and help strengthen the community.
