CYCLIST GCINA BANDA REACHING FOR THE STARS

MBABANE – He has finally broken his duck. Dig Deep Cycling Club and national team cyclist Gcina Banda has finally reaped the fruit of his labour following a spirited display on the road this year. 

He clocked 03:20:48 hours to arrive about two minutes earlier than his closest competitor, Mduduzi Zwane. The 26-year-old is celebrating his maiden championship after winning the celebrated 120km Siteki Road Cycle Classic two days ago. It was staged along the Siteki-Mhlumeni road.

Banda is proving to be a late bloomer after leaving a mark in 2018.  He got national team call-ups for the trips to the Australia Commonwealth Games and Rwanda African Road Championships in April and February this year respectively. Banda has been a serious contender for a podium finish in the new year. He was second in the 120km Kukhanya Road Cycle Classic.

“I started cycling competitively three years ago.
“Cycling is my number one sport, as I only play football for fun,” he said.

Unlike most local cyclists, Banda focuses only on road races. He stopped competing in off-road races over a year ago.
“I no longer do MTB races, as I don’t have a ‘bike’ for the category,” he said.

impressive

Following his impressive showing this year, the soft-spoken cyclist said there was no looking back from here.
“I have to work hard in the new year.
“I’m grateful for the support from my team Dig Deep,” he said.

Banda is also in the team that will represent the country in next year’s African Road Championships in Algeria. He expressed hope that the experience gained in previous international assignments would come in handy.

“I have now mastered the tricks of competing in international races.
“To leave a mark, I should keep the peloton in sight,” he said.
The sky seems to be the limit for Banda and he looks determined to reach for the stars.

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