By Ntokozo Magongo
MBABANE – The Border2Border Cycle Tour that promoted domestic tourism has been sponsored to the tune of E62 000 by Alphsz Eswatini.
The Border2Border Tour is a cycling event where cyclists ride from Ngwenya Border Post to Lavumisa covering 240km. The tour will be attended by cycling from South Africa, Gauteng and Mpumalanga will be held on June 15.
It will have four categories with the main event being the 240km to start at Ngwenya/ Oshoek Border Post to Lavumisa. The others are the 180km to start from Manzini City Centre, 130km starting in Sikhuphe and the 100km to start at Lukhula, Siteki with the finish line for all in Lavumisa Border Post.
The E62 000 cheque was handed to the cycling family on Friday by Alphsz’s Sipho Nhlabatsi and Thandile Nxumalo at Intfuntfuko (FINCORP) Building offices in Mbabane.
The organising member of the event, Siphesihle Nhlabatsi, said this cycling event contributed to tourism in the country. He said it gave local and international cyclists an opportunity to site seeing the country, as it covered the four regions being Hhohho, Manzini, Lubombo and Shiselweni.
“Thank you to Alphsz for their continued support. Cycling is a good sport that also assists people to move from one place to the next. We hope in the future the country will adopt cycling as a spot and mode of transport. Cycling can even reduce traffic and people can cycle to and from work,” he said.
Eswatini Tourism Authority (ETA) Custom Liaison Officer Henrietta Mdluli said they were in full support of the event as it assists in promoting domestic tourism.
Former Eswatini Cycling Association (ECA) President and now Road Safety Deputy Chairperson Sihlangu Nhlabatsi said they will be present on the day to make sure that the cyclists were safe while riding on the road. He urged the cyclists to make sure that they were visible to motorists on the day. Last year, the Sincephetelo Motor Vehicle Accident Fund (SMVAF) provided reflector vests. SMVAF also assured the cyclists that they will be present on the day to also assist in safety.
Present during the sponsorship launch were ECA Acting President William Kelly and some of the cyclists.
The categories:
Distance Stars Finish Starting time
240km Ngwenya/ Oshoek to Lavumisa 5am
180km Manzini City Centre Lavumisa 5:30am
130km Sikhuphe Lavumisa 6am
100km Lukhula/ Siteki Lavumisa 6:30am
