Times Of Swaziland: SWAZI FRONTIER’S 15TH ANNIVERSARY IN OCTOBER

SWAZI FRONTIER’S 15TH ANNIVERSARY IN OCTOBER
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BY PHOLSILE HLOPHE on 30/06/2020 00:24:00


MBABANE – Inyatsi Swazi Frontier will be celebrating 15 years in October. In
exactly four months, the international mountain bike race, Inyatsi Swazi
Frontier, will be celebrating 15 years of existence.
This is an adventurous three-day mountain bike stage race that meanders through
the rural and remote hills and valleys of northern Eswatini. The annual race
attracts local and international cyclists from across the globe, with entries
limited to 160.
The cancellation of cycling events leading up to August, as confirmed by
Eswatini Cycling Association’s President Sihlangu Nhlabatsi in the past three
weeks, leaves a glimmer of hope for the staging of the Inyatsi Swazi
Frontier’s fifth edition race. The race route is unmarked and riders follow a
Global Positioning System (GPS) track to find their way to the finish line each
day.
unique
The daily distances are 60km and cyclists are offered a unique experience of
Eswatini’s striking scenery.
Cyclists have their fingers crossed as they hope to have the race staged as
planned, starting from October 8 until 10, 2020.
Local cyclist, Clinton McNamara, who managed to conquer a 180km challenge of the
race in the year 2018, said that he was still in the dark with regard to the
staging of this year’s race. He said that he, among other cyclists, was still
waiting for a formal announcement from the government in light of the wide
spreading COVID-19, which forced the suspension of sports activities since
March.
“We still don’t know what to do. We are still waiting for directives on the
way forward,” said McNamara.
The event’s coordinators Brett Foss and Lesley Foss said the 15th anniversary
celebration of the race had been planned since the beginning of the year. They
pointed out that the race was due to be held in the next four months and hoped
that the COVID-19 regulations would have been eased in order to allow the event
to continue as planned.
“In the meantime, we are working on a safety plan adhering to the World Health
Organisation’s guidelines. We are monitoring the situation closely and we will
give an update in due course,” read a correspondence sent by the coordinators.
sadness
They further expressed their sadness about the cancellation of numerous cycling
events resulting from the spread of the virus. They also encouraged cyclists who
had entered Inyatsi Swazi Frontier to continue training and hoped to reward them
with a spectacular experience and incredible cycling along the exhilarating
Swazi Frontier route.