Moorosi Tsiane
PHETHETSO Monese and his partner Pieter Korkie are enjoying a good run in the ongoing annual Lesotho Sky race which started on Monday and ends on Saturday in Roma.
The duo has so far won the two stages of the six-stage race. The race also has participants from Kenya, Uganda, United States of America, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Australia, Germany and South Africa.
Monese and Korkie started on the back foot on Monday finishing second behind Katleho Manasi and Eric Ramohanoe during the 85 kilometrr Roma loop. However, the reigning Clocklan Three Mountains Challenge champions stamped their authority on the second day winning the 85km ride from Roma to Malealea.
Monese and Korkie once again won the 36.2 kilometre Malealea loop to remain favorites to win the competition.
The fourth day will see cyclists doing 54.35km Malealea loop while on Friday cyclists will ride 85.5km from Malealea back to Roma where they will finish up on Saturday with 85.5km cross country lap.
Monese told the Lesotho Times yesterday that they hope to continue doing well with his partner as their target is to win the race for the first time.
“We didn’t start well because my partner struggled with the terrain but things fell into place on the second day and it looks like he has now settled and have now done well in the last two days,” Monese said.
“The target is to win the race so we just need to keep. We stand a good chance of winning the race.
“Last year I partnered with Makae (Tumelo) but he is not in the country now hence I am partnering Korkie. We finished third last year but I think the competition is not too tough this year maybe it is because the race is not an UCI event.”
Founder of the race Cristian Schmidt said he was impressed with the race so far.
“I have seen very happy riders in the field and once again the stage is set for a Lesotho win with the duo of Monese and Korkie riding for Alliance Insurance Company.
“So far, most of the riders have completed the three out of six stages and that is a good sign,” Schmidt said.
