• BRIGHT Chintu leads the charge during the 2015 Stanbic Bank Mountain Bike national Championship staged in Lusaka last weekend. Picture courtesy of CYCLING ASSOCIATION OF ZAMBIA

By MOSES CHIMFWEMBE –

STANBIC Bank has pledged to sponsor the Mountain Bike Classic national championship yearly.
The championship that was introduced in 2013 covers an official distance of 55km with the route that is a combination of jeep and single tracks and a few stream crossings into the Zambezi Escarpment on the outskirts of Lusaka.
Cycling Association of Zambia (CAZ) president Peter Chintu said in an interview yesterday that Stanbic Bank has committed to ensure that the Mountain Bike Classic race was an annual championship.
“We are very happy and thankful that Stanbic bank has been sponsoring the Mountain Bike championship since its inception in 2013 and they have offered to make it an annual tournament and the bank will be sorting out all the expenses toward this race,” Chintu said.
He said the move was a milestone for the association in the country as it would provide a platform for the cyclists to develop their skills and be ready for international competitions.
This year’s championship saw about 150 riders jostle for the top prize after setting off from Leopards Hill Polocrosse Club and passing through two water tables in the remote parts of Lusaka into Chilanga and back.
Obert Chembe emerged winner and bagged K4000 top prize while Omar Mweene and Ryan Ellis walked away with K3000 and K2000 respectively after finishing second and third.
Chintu said the Mountain Bike Classic set the tone for the Mulungushi challenge that will take place on August 2 at Mulungushi Boat Club, 60km East of Kabwe town.
The challenge that covers mostly single track and old jeep track in farm roads will see riders compete in categories ranging from 20 km to 80km with two classes for children.