Boniface Ngwata and Jolene Juma have emerged as the winners of the Pedal Pursuit Training Race in Tanzania, claiming the men's and women's titles respectively. The event, which was organised by the Cycling Association of Tanzania, highlighted the growing depth of cycling talent in the country. Ngwata, riding for Matambuu, clocked 2:45:30 to win the men's Elites and U23 category. The men's race had 59 riders at the start.
The men's category had a tight finish, with the first three riders recording exactly the same time. Gerard Konda of Team Shinyanga was classified second, while Lamerk Marco of Shining Empire took third. Team Shinyanga's Kulwa Kayungilo finished fourth in 2:45:31, just one second behind the leading trio. Frank Mariki of Team Madafu completed the top five in 2:48:31.
Jolene Juma produced an impressive performance in the women's category, winning in 2:10:32. Regina Doto finished second, only one second behind, while Leona Mbandu took third in 2:10:34. Nicole Collins was fourth in 2:10:35 and Deborah Okito fifth in 2:10:38. The women's results showed that the leading five riders were separated by only six seconds.
Pedal Pursuit Training Race chairman Hilary Edward Chuwa congratulated the winners and praised the level of competition displayed by the cyclists. He said the close finishes demonstrated the progress being made through the race series. The event was designed to motivate local cyclists, raise the standard of domestic competition, and prepare riders for international events.
The race, which covered 102 kilometres, had an average speed of 36.98 kilometres per hour. The men and veterans completed six laps of a 17-kilometre circuit, while women covered five laps for a total of 85 kilometres. The competition carried a total prize purse of Sh12 million, with Sh1.5 million allocated to the men's winner and Sh1 million to the women's champion.
The Pedal Pursuit Training Race has played a significant role in developing local talent, with organisers saying the competition has been staged more than 15 times over the past two years. More than 10 cyclists have emerged from the program to compete at World Championships in Rwanda, while another 15 represented Tanzania at the African Games in Kenya.
The organisers are also seeking to strengthen the sport at grassroots level through the Kanyaga Mbele program, which targets children from as young as five and focuses on cycling discipline, nutrition, and safety. Boniface Ngwata, one of the winners, has previously made an impression internationally, finishing sixth among riders from more than 100 countries at a competition in Dubai earlier this year.
Key points
- The Pedal Pursuit Training Race had a total prize purse of Sh12 million.
- The event was designed to motivate local cyclists and prepare them for international events.
- The competition has helped develop local cycling talent, with many riders going on to compete at international events.
