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Foreign riders from South Africa and Botswana are expected to take part in the annual 56-km race that begins at eight o’clock in the morning at Ascot Shopping Centre and ends at Falcon College in Esigodini.
In an interview yesterday, a spokesman for the organisers, Lee McNab, said they had received 300 entries and registration would close by end of today at Old Miltonians Sports Club.
He also confirmed the coming in of foreign riders.
“As of today we have 300 entries and we hope to get more people coming. I think we can reach last year’s number.
“We have already received entries for the race from South Africa and Botswana. From within the country we will have riders from Victoria Falls, Harare and our own Bulawayo participants.
“It is our hope that foreign participants will add value to the race and make it more competitive,” said McNab.
Last year, Tour de Falcon had a record 476 participants.
The last edition of the competition saw Christian Brothers College’s Ralph Mayson setting a Tour de Falcon record after cycling the 56km race in a time of 1:24:05.
He broke the competition’s previous record of 1:30:58 which stood for a year.
Mayson is among favourites to win the race.
Ekhaya Racing Club’s Eben Manaba who was the first runner-up in a time of 1:24:40 last year with James Freeland crossing the finishing line seven seconds later as he settled for third position are also pre-race favourites.
Freeland won the Flying Eagles Cycling Club 60km race in a time of one hour 42 minutes 50 seconds at the beginning of the year.
Bright Chipongo and David Martin are also expected to be part of the competition.
Other Bulawayo racers who will compete at the Tour de Falcon are Ekhaya Racing Club’s duo of Crispen Kazingi and Ralph Mtupha.
Ekhaya riders train in Esigodini and should have an advantage over other riders.
Nkulumo “Nkust” Dube who represented the country at last year’s Mozambique All-Africa Games has been ruled out of the race due to work commitments.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter