Lovemore Dube, CHIEF WRITER
ZIMBABWE’S top riders from clubs around the country are expected to compete in one of the most grueling local races, the Flying Eagles 100 Miler Classic on 1 May.
Organised by local cycling club, Flying Eagles Cycling Club, the annual event attracts racers from top clubs across the country with Flying Eagles and Unimills-Hokoyo the top clubs in Bulawayo.
Last year, the event was won by Unimills-Hokoyo rider Advocate Phiri who also won the event in 2019 and will be looking to make three in a row this year. Last year, the 23-year-old defending champion won the race in a time of three hours 45.05 minutes and was closely followed by his team mates, Nkulumo Dube a second later with another colleague, Mthokozisi Sibanda coming in third in 3:48.44 as Unimills-Hokoyo swept the podium.
This year’s elite race kicks off at 6.30 in the morning from the Antelope Park Turn-off in Gweru while the social race will begin in Shangani at 09.00hrs with race organisers setting 15.00hrs as the cut off time for all riders to finish the race. The elite riders will cycle 100 miles or 160 kilometers while social riders will cycle 80km. Both races will finish at the Khumalo Hockey Stadium in Bulawayo.
Zvishavane-based mine, Mimosa is expected to send a 55-strong contingent of social riders to the event. Mimosa has a social cycling club Mimosa Mine sending social riders sending about 30 riders for the 80km social ride from Shangani. Some of the riders took part in the 80km social race last and are reportedly going to and a go at the lite race over 160km this year.
Dave Loxton, one of the organisers from Flying Eagles Cycling Club said preparations were at an advanced level. He said all logistics for the race were in place and registration of participating riders is in progress.
“We have been working on finalising the logistics of what is a national event and we are now confident that we are ready for the race. We know that most of our elite riders, especially from Unimills-Hokoyo who swept the podium last year in the same event will all be there.
“We expect a very competitive race because we know all the top riders in the country will be available for the 100 Miler Classic,” Loxton said.
“We expect the elite riders to go after the record which is currently 3 hours 33.44 minutes,” Loxton added.
Unimills-Hokoyo principal Davies Muhambi said his team’s win last year was testimony of the hard work they are putting into road racing whether in training or at events. Muhambi said his team has not lost sight of breaking the record and will be attempting to shave a few minutes this year.
“We are happy to see that the boys are expressing their talent and pushing themselves in training. It’s exciting when you assist youngsters and they deliver through performances, hard work and the fact that all our riders have made the podium in every race we have taken part in locally,” he said.
This is one of the oldest road cycling races in the country having been first introduced in the 1950’s along with the 33 Miler marathon.
