MUZI CRUISES TO ANOTHER WIN!

MANZINI – MTN Khemani cyclist and off-road races national champion Muzi Shabangu has cruised to record win in the 55km Mormond ‘Stix’ a Montain Bike Charity race.

After winning the inaugural edition with a time of 02:34 hours, the 19-year-old was back to claim gold with an improved time at Manzini Club yesterday. He shook off three-time Nedbank Imvelo MTB champion Christo Carelsen of South Africa with a time of 02:20:01 hours. The latter was second with a time of 2:26:09 hours. After a setback in the past week’s Nkonyeni G2G MTB Classic, where he  took a ‘wrong turn’, Muzi made amends, as he proved elusive on the trails to finish more than five minutes earlier than his closest challenger. Completing the list of the podium finishers was Lungelo Mlangeni of MTN Khemani with a time of 02:31:20 hours. As he is strong in the climbs, the terrain is proving to be Muzi’s favourite hunting ground.  After the first 33km, he had already opened a lead. I enjoyed myself and I cycled the last 20km alone.

“I’m happy to retain the title,” he said. Runner-up Carelsen said he enjoyed cycling on the single trails, saying the champion proved elusive on the climbs. “The race is 100 per cent enjoyable. “I will be back next year,” he said. Retha Harding, who is a national champion in the ladies category, was also unmoved on the podium’s highest point with a time of 03:24:50 hours. Other races were 35, 20, 10 and 5km long and Mduduzi Zwane from MTN Khemani was a winner of the second longest event with a time of 01:39:25 hours. The winners of the two main races got a share from a E10 000 purse, while the rest of the podium finishers got fabulous prizes that included cycling jerseys, helmets and vouchers. Officials led by Minister of Sport, Culture and Youth Affairs David ‘Cruiser’ Ngcamphalala and Lwandle Chief Nkamane Mkhatjwa made a stop at the venue to witness the festivities. Lwandle, alongside Gundvwini and Nhlambeni chiefdoms, are along the route of the race.

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