Dar es Salaam. Arusha Cycling Club
(ACC) will field cyclists in the
forthcoming third edition of the
four-day Tour de Machakos, which
will take place in Kenya from
October 20.
ACC official Bram Markey told The
Citizen yesterday that they were
determined to have representatives
at the event, but currently, they are
working on how to secure
sponsorship that will enable their
riders to compete smoothly at the
event.
The Tour de Machakos is a replica of
the international Tour de France.
Traditionally, the race, which will be
like any other international events,
has eight categories - the elite,
juniors, family fun, veterans, corporate, media and women.
Last year, the event featured the riders from Rwanda, South Africa, Kenya,
Ethiopia, Eritrea, Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, Gabon and Team Bike Aid of
Germany, which also signed a one-year contract with Tanzania and ACC’s
high-flying international rider, Richard Laizer.
Laizer has a vast experience in international cycling events, having ridden
in among other events, the first two stages of Ghana’s La Tropicale
Amissa Bongo, finishing 48th and 39th.
Arusha Cycling Club has had a busy schedule, representing the country in
several major international events.
A big delegation of not less than 17 riders of the ACC also early this year
crossed the border to Kenya to compete at the two-day Mount Kenya
10to4 Mountain Bike Challenge.
Bram said that his club will also take part in the annual Karatu race
scheduled for December.
“We are still arranging on how to take part in the coming major fixture
and we hope things will work out,” he said.
Lazier has been a cycling icon in the country, but his success on the
international scene has yet to match his Rwandan rivals.
The 27-year old rider was in 2013 offered a professional cycling contract
with the biggest and most prominent professional cycling team in South
Africa, Team MTN QHUBEKA.
Laizer spent a long time training at the UCI World Cycling Centre last year
Johannesburg, South Africa with his teammates from the likes of Eritrea,
Ethiopia, and Rwanda. He is among a few local cyclists destined for top
honours in international events. @vuja de mko na maji huko ukambani
I hate this chieth coz of lack of originality, what is Tour de Machakos in our local dialect?
Tour of Machakos
Then why plagirize france’s ideas mpaka names?
@vuja de kuja utuambie Tour de Machakos inaitwaje na Kikamba
I agree
Fully agree.