A record time of 1 hour 24 minutes 5 seconds was set in this year’s 56km Tour de Falcon cycling race which attracted close to 500 riders yesterday morning.
Ralph Mayson from Bulawayo was the winner of the race, shrugging off a stiff challenge from Ekhaya Racing Club’s Eben Manaba who crossed the line in 1 hour 24 minutes and 40 seconds at Falcon College in Esigodini.
Last year’s record was 1 hour 30 minutes 58 seconds set by Stephanie van Roy.
James Freeland came behind Manaba to claim the third spot in 1 hour 24 minutes 47 seconds in the race which had 16 categories with riders from all over the country.
One of the favourites to win this year’s race, Nkulumo Dube of Flying Eagles in Bulawayo, had a disappointing experience as he had a puncture just over 30km at the infamous Danger Point from Bulawayo’s Ascot Shopping Centre, the starting point.
Dube (21), a member of the Under-23 national team had broken away, leading the pack by two kilometres, when he had the unfortunate occurrence, which took away the title from right under his nose.
He came out position seven in the race after the mishap.
“It was not a very tough race, but I had the puncture after breaking away for about two kilometres. I was going to win the race anyway. I am Bulawayo’s best,” Dube said after the race.
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Lee McNab, one of the organisers of the race, said the 2011 edition of the Tour de Falcon had an overwhelming attendance, but was marred by several mechanical hiccups.
“We had 491, with a couple of riders from outside. Nkulumo (Dube) had a puncture when he was away ahead of everyone. It was a mechanical problem.
“There was nothing he could do about it. Be that as it may, he came out seventh,” McNab said. McNab said a lot of interest is being shown in the sport after last year’s competition attracted 380 riders, but decried the lack of equipment as a hindrance.
“Great interest has been shown from our development riders.
“The good thing is that there is improvement from last year’s 380 riders. There is talent, but we have got to have equipment,” McNab said.
Dube is headed for a training camp in South Africa next month ahead of the 10th All-Africa Games set for Mozambique from September 3–18. He came third in 4 hours 5 minutes 11 seconds in the national trials in Harare last month after cycling 146km.
