By Ntokozo Magongo
MBABANE – The best road cyclists in the country will be known on May 18, when the Eswatini Cycling Association (ECA) hosts the Road National Championships.
The national championships will start and finish at Mafutseni, Manzini. Only affiliated members of ECA will be eligible to compete in the races. Registration portal will close on Friday (May 17).
The categories include men’s elite and under-24. They will compete in the 124km, with under-19 boys for 76km and 57km for under-16 boys.
Elite women and under-23 will compete in 100km with the under-19 girls for 76km and the under-16 for 57km.
The first race to start is the elite and under-23 men at 6:45am with the elite women and under-23 starting 30 minutes later. The under-19 boys will start at 7:30am and the under-16 at 8:30am. The girls’ under-19 will start at 8am and the under-16 girls will resume at 8:15am.
The event is supported by the Union Cyclists International, Ministry of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs, Eswatini Sport and Recreation Council (ESRC), Eswatini Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association (EOCGA) and Asishove.
The winners of the 2023 Roach National Championships were Kwanele Jele in the men’s category and Nontsikelelo Ndlovu in the ladies section.
Cyclists will on Saturday compete in the Enjabulweni MTB Race set for Enjabulweni School, Manzini. This will be a good warm for cyclists ahead of the championships.
