Top Byo cyclist qualifies for Afcon 2015

20 Dec, 2014 - 00:12 0 Views

The Sunday News

Dalphine Tagwireyi in Harare
BULAWAYO top cyclist Nkulumo “Nkust” Dube put up a sterling performance, dominating the race at the elite 100km Afcon Cyclist 2015 qualifiers along Shamva Road yesterday.

Dube clocked a time of three hours 30 seconds in the elite race taking first position ahead of Harare’s top cyclist Dave Martins who was a close second in three hours 31 seconds.

The qualifiers were the second and final leg which saw Dube, Martins and Albert Kireva earn the right to represent the country in the elite league at the continental tournament set for Pietermaritzburg, South Africa from 6 to 10 February.

Dube took lead in the first 50km lap with Martins closely behind. But Dube proved stronger cycling uphill and this made him gain advantage though at the finish line, Martins closed in on him. However, Dube managed to outmaneuver Martins at the death of the race.

“In the first league at my hometown Bulawayo Martins beat me and l came on a revenge mission to thwart him on his home ground hence my victory today,” said Dube.

“Had l given up at the finish line Martins would have claimed first position hence I remained resilient and beat him to the line as he had relaxed.”

Dube said he was proud to have qualified for the AFCON tournament and will go into camp from 10 January until 9 February to work and prepare himself ahead of the tournament.

“AFCON is a huge tournament and hence adequate preparation is important for Zimbabwe to produce great cyclists and results as well,” said Dube

Bulawayo will also be represented in the junior league by Flying Eagles youth champion Alexander Welsh who came third and clocked a time of 1 hour 37 minutes behind Harare’s duo of Chad Scallan and Luke Collins who came first and second respectively in the juniors 50km qualifying race.

Welsh, who will take part in the continental tournament for the first time, said he was excited to have qualified.

“It was an awesome race and better than l expected because going uphill was easy and it made me gain speed and maintain an advantage over other competitors,” said Welsh.

“The only challenge I faced was the wind because it was breezy and on a flat stretch I would decrease my speed trying to fight against it.”

Wayne Davidson the National Road Coordinator for the qualifiers expressed optimism that the cyclists who will represent Zimbabwe next year will excel.

“These are strong cyclists and l am confident that they will raise the flag high ahead of the AFCON tournament and the elite will race in the 187km with the juniors taking part in the 45km challenge,” said Davidson.

The top three cyclists at the AFCON will automatically qualify for the Cycling World championships.

Results

ELITE MEN

NAME LAPS TIME

NKULUMO DUBE 2 3:00:30

DAVE MARTIN 2 3:00:31

ALBERT KIREVA 2 3:08:33

KNOWLEDGE GREER 2 3:10:42

LADIES

NAME LAPS TIME

TRACEY BICKNELL 1 1:41:33

LINDA DAVIDSON 1 1:49:36

BELLA WOLOSOWICZ 1 1:51:00

JUNIOR MEN

NAME LAPS TIME

CHAD SCALLAN 1 1:35:31

LUKE COLLINS 1 1:35:39

ALEXANDER WALSH 1 1:37:00

BYRON MITCHELL 1 1:41:45

TOM HADDON 1 1:41:46

JAKE GREENWAY 1 1:41:50

JUNIOR WOMEN

NAME LAPS TIME

HELEN MITCHELL 1 1:41:48

SKYE DAVIDSON 1 1:41:49

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