UCI World MTB Rankings

According to the latest UCI World MTB Rankings for Juniors, I am ranked joint 39th in the world.

Cool!!!

Newsletter #5

July 24th 2012

4 Races in 7 days!

This has been a very busy week with 4 races in 7 days … and I managed to win 3 of them!

It all started with the Lesotho National Championships in Mohale’s Hoek on Saturday 14th July. It was very cold, wet and slippery, but I managed to win my 15km Junior Men category by over 4 minutes. It is important to be a national champion, because that gives me points towards international rankings … and it’s cool to wear the Lesotho national champion jersey in races!
The championships were soured by a tragic accident that happened to my compatriot the Junior Women champion Moselantja. Sadly she was knocked down by a Sprinter when warming up for the race and did not survive. We have represented Lesotho together in races in South Africa and we will all miss her.
The second race was the 33km marathon championships also in Mohale’s Hoek on the King’s Birthday holiday. Just before the start, my bike developed a gear problem and I had to race on my father’s bone-shaker (bicycle). I still managed to win, but this was much closer! At least my father can’t blame the bike for not winning his races now!

Congratulations from the Lesotho Honourable Minister of Sports, Thesele Maseribane, after winning the Lesotho National Marathon MTB Championships.

On the weekend, we went to 2 more races in Freestate.

On Friday, I was in the Freestate Spur School League’s race and came in 3rd again. I was in doing well, but got a puncture on the last lap. I managed to keep going – riding and pushing – and kept my 3rd place to the end. On Saturday, we went to a race just outside Kroonstad where I went for the 35km option. To be honest, this was the easiest of all the races and I was ahead from the start. The route went through a game park and I even had time to view some animals – wildebeests, giraffes etc.

I quite like the top step of the podium! Commonwealth Games … here I come! (Kroonstad race 21/07/12)

Thank you all for your support – I couldn’t do it without you! I especially want to mention my new ‘supplement’ sponsor, Herbalife (Dr. Tankiso Tsehla). They have a great new range of athlete-specific products that have already given me a boost and I am sure will be a great help to me in my training and racing programme.
I am saving my biggest news for last. In a few weeks, I am going overseas to Wales to continue my schooling. It is a great opportunity for me academically and to take my cycling to a higher level. Hopefully, I will be like Chris Froome who was born and brought up in Kenya and later went to UK to train – last Saturday, he finished 2nd overall in the world’s biggest cycling race – Tour de France. My eyes are firmly fixed on 2014 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, Scotland!
Best Wishes!And thanks for everything!

Lichaba

HERBALIFE

 

HERBALIFE is not just a sponsor, but a strategy to become a better rider with comprehensive 24-hour nutritional support from HERBALIFE 24 products.

Dr. Tankiso Tshehla, our neighbour and HERBALIFE expert, encouraged my to get started and funded my starter pack and first round of products.

I have already noticed a difference in my energy levels and mental allertness, and I’m looking forward to seeing a great improvement in performance as well.

Newsletter #4

27th June 2012

Spur Schools Racing!

My exams have finished and now while I am waiting for the results, I have more time for training. Just in this last month, I have clocked up 500kms off-road on a mountain bike.
The training has paid off because last Saturday I won the first round of the Lesotho Spur Schools race at Lepereng Olympic site in freezing, rainy and muddy conditions. I could have won by a very big gap, but on the 3rd lap my chain came off and tangled around my derailleur. By the time I got it back on again, the second and third riders were right on my tail. On the last lap I pushed hard and increased the gap again.

Top 3 in the Lesotho Spur School’s MTB Race #1

The trouble with training and racing a lot is that the equipment wears out fast. The bike is still fantastic, but some of the components need replacing. The first to go was my derailleur, which cracked on the rocks at the World Cup. My father tried gluing it back together, which worked quite well, but it broke again and he forked out over R1000 to buy a new one. Now other things are needing to be replaced. With the National Championships coming up in July, I really want my bike to be in perfect running order again.

Getting some ‘air’ on a fast technical drop at Lepereng Olympic Track.

You have already done so much to help me, so I am shy to ask for more, but if anyone is able to help with R400 for a new chain, R650 for a new chain ring or R 1100 for new pedals … I will be so happy and will be able to do my best at the championships.
Apart from the National Championships that will be held in Mohale’s Hoek, I am also planning to do a tough race in Ficksburg on 7th July, Schools race in Bloemfontein on 20th July and the second round of the Lesotho Spur race on 28th. No cash prizes on offer, but if I can win enough Spur vouchers, maybe I can treat you for a meal. 
Thank you!

Lichaba

Newsletter #3

15th May 2012

Mountainbike World Cup!

The photo below shows me riding against the best junior riders in the world at the UCI MTB World Cup in Pietermaritzburg in March. The race was very tough and I crashed and messed up my face in practice. It rained the night before and the already dangerous course became un-rideable for me. I don’t know how the other competitors managed – it shows I still have a long way to go! Anyway, I am still proud of my 23rd position, especially because I was the first Lesotho junior rider to compete in a World Cup.

Up against the best junior riders in the world. Victor (No 1)is the current world champ & Anton (no 21) is the world’s best junior in 2012.

Part of the tough UCI World Cup XCO course

The after-effects of my crash.

At the moment, I am in the middle of writing my external IGCSE examinations and I have not spent much time training since March. I have been able to enter a few races: –

18 Feb Giba Gorge XCO, KZN 25km 11th (International)

03 Mar Karkloof XCO, KZN 25km 8th (International)

18 Mar UCI World Cup XCO, RSA 20km 23rd (World Class)

14 Apr Malealea Monster MTB 30km 1st (Lesotho)

21 Apr RSA Spur Schools League 20km 11th (SA National)

11 May Freestate Spur Schools League 20km 3rd (Freestate)

Well, I have to get back to the books now, but I hope that when my exams are over I will be able to do you proud in more races. I appreciate the support you have given me and I want to work hard to become the best cyclist I can be.
Thank you!

Lichaba

Molengoane Lodge & Ka Pitseng Guest House

 

http://www.molengoane-kapitseng.co.ls/

These 2 lodges are some of my favourite cycling venues.  They are owned by Ntate Phano Mohapi and his team create a warm, friendly environment that is appreciated by all guests at the lodges.

Ka Pitseng Guest House, in TY, was the headquarters of our 2011 National MTB Championships where I won the youth category in both Cross-Country and Marathon.

Molengoane Lodge is an ideal start point for long high-altitude road rides over mountain passes or MTB trails.  It is a stop-off for one of the Lesotho Sky stages in 2012.

Thank you for your sponsorship!

http://www.molengoane-kapitseng.co.ls/

Pressed In Time

 

I’m still a teenager, so I don’t have to worry much about laundry – I just leave it dirty on the floor and find it washed, ironed and folded in the wardrobe!  Otherwise, I would definitely take it to Pressed In Time to make my life easier.  Mrs. Khetsi and her team run a fast, friendly laundry and dry-cleaning service in the most easily accessible place in town – Pioneer Shopping Centre.

Thank you! Pressed in Time for your support!

Vision Clinic

 

Vision Clinic Optometrist and Contact Lens Centre offer a fast and effective service for fitting lenses in frame.  They boast state-of-the-art laboratory onsite for preparing spectacles quickly.

Ntate Mokete has always taken a keen interest in my development as a cyclist.  He is always welcoming, friendly and willing to give me time to tell my progress.  Thanks you for your help, Ntate!

ELECTRO REFRIGERATION & ELECTRO TECHNO SERVICES

I have never met the owners of ELECTRO REFRIGERATION or ETS, but I want to thank Mr. Chisepo and Mr. None for putting their faith in me.  Without their support, I could not have been able to get my Giant XTC bicycle that has carried me to so many victories.

Thank you Bo-Ntate!

Newsletter #2

30th Jan 2012

Exams out of the way!

I am proud to show off my proud sponsors whenever I ride (the sponsors on the back get the best exposure because I am always out in the front in races)

I love cycling … but I have to keep my future options open. This year, in June, I am writing my external IGCSE examinations and I have spent much of the past few weeks studying for trial exams and finishing coursework projects.
Now that this bout of exams are out of the way, I can put my mind back on training again. I have already clocked more than 150km in just a few days. I appreciate the support you have given me and I want to work hard to become the best cyclist I can be.
I am looking forward to follow on from my wins at Morija and Ficksburg by attending a few races in a hectic schedule. This is my calendar: –
18 Feb (my 17th birthday!)
– UCI Cross-country 1, Durban, SA.
03 Mar – UCI Cross-country 2, Howick, SA.
10 Mar – UCI Cross-country 3, PMB, SA.
17 Mar – UCI World Cup, PMB, SA.
24 Mar – Lesotho Road Championships.
? Mar – Thaba Bosiu MTB race.
The UCI (International Cycling Union) races are a very high level and I am just trying to get some experience and international exposure in a new age group – Juniors (17-18 yrs).
There should also be some races in Bloemfontein, but I don’t have the dates yet.
At least I don’t have to worry about my equipment – my new bicycle is light and quick and I’m really getting used to it now. Thanks for your help to get it.

DON’T TRY THIS AT HOME!!! Many TV programmes show stunts and then tell viewers not to copy them at home, but I do the opposite. Lesotho is a great place to practice MTB cycling and I use the rocky places near my home to hone my skills in the short time I have after school.

I know that when I travel to these races, I go with your best wishes. I hope that I will be able to put in performances to make you proud!
Thank you!

Lichaba