Zambia: Red Arrows cyclists Obert Chembe and Vannesa Mutende are the 2023 National Road Race champions after dominating the race, held at State Lodge from start to the finishing line.
Chembe won the 200 Elite Men’s race, outclassing 45 riders, while 14-year-old Mutende won the Women’s category after enduring the 120km to cycle past the finish line.
His experience of having competed at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games showed for Chembe as he timed 05 hours 26 minutes and 10 seconds while his closest rival, Leo Butt of Nakambala Cycling Club, was 13 seconds behind.
Kansanshi cyclist Michael Olokani finished third with a time of 05 hours 26 minutes and 14 seconds.
In an interview after the 200km race, Chembe described the race as tough, and the hot weather did not make it any easier, but he said he was glad to make the sponsors proud.
“To be honest, the competition was tough, but I managed to emerge victorious using my experience because I have raced on this terrain, and it gave me a home-ground advantage because I know the route very well,” Chembe said.
He expressed happiness that the sport had continued to grow and that the other riders gave him a good run. “The other riders gave me a tough time, and I had to keep up. It’s no longer easy to win because we have a number of cycling clubs that are bringing in stiff competition, and thanks to my lovely sponsors for always supporting me,” he said.
Sikumbwa Mombotwa won the king of the Mountain. In the women’s category, Mutende overcame competition from 23 riders to clock three hours, 05 minutes and 14 seconds, covering a distance of 120km.
Mutende was Zambia’s first female representative to compete at the Commonwealth Youth Games in Trinidad and Tobago in August this year. “I am happy that I have won. It was not easy, but I have been training hard and also competing at the Commonwealth Youth Games gave me exposure. The girls there are really fast, and I learnt a lot from them,” she said.
Cynthia Sika from Kansanshi timed 03 hours 07 minutes and 35 seconds ahead of her clubmate Luwi Chikoma, who clocked 03 hours 08 minutes and 31 seconds and also won the Queen of the Mountain.
In the intermediate men’s Mountain Bike race, Christopher Muke of Kansanshi emerged winner with a time of 03 hours 01 minute and 14 seconds as Seidah Nkolola of Arrows timed 03 hours 10 minutes and 25 seconds while Kitwe Cycling Club rider Owen Kasampo was third on three hours two minutes and 28 seconds.
Kansanshi cyclist Evenly Lubinda won the intermediate women’s Mountain bike category with a time of four hours 10 minutes, while Kansanshi’s Mary Libuku clocked 04 hours 38 minutes and 16 seconds.
Gift Castro won the Intermediate Road men’s race by Kansanshi, who clocked 02 hours 51 minutes 14 seconds ahead of teammate Godfrey Zulu on 02 hours 51 minutes and 21 seconds as Twin Palm biker George Zulu finished third with a time of two hours 51 minutes and 31 seconds.
This is according to Journalist Sandra Mwila’s article published in the Times of Zambia on Monday, 18 September 2023.