Leemisa Thuseho
PUMP-track cycling sensations, Khothalang Leuta and Khotso Maliehe, will fly Lesotho’s flag at the 2026 Velosolutions Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) Mountain Bike World Championships – Pump Track in Beijing, China, on 17 October.
The championships will be held at the Mentougou BMX Sports Base in Beijing’s Mentougou District, where the two riders will compete against some of the world’s best pump-track cyclists.
Leuta and Maliehe earned their places at the global showpiece following impressive performances in a series of qualifying events held in Lesotho.
The duo has also secured an expenses-paid trip sponsored by the event organisers.
Leuta is already in China, having arrived last month to prepare for the competition. She is looking forward to making her third appearance at the Pump Track World Championship Finals, having previously represented Lesotho at the 2021 finals in Lisbon, Portugal, and the November 2024 edition in KwaMashu, South Africa.
She missed the 2025 championships in Monthey, Switzerland, in September last year due to visa challenges.
Speaking to the Sunday Express from China on Friday, Leuta said she was delighted to have made it to this year’s finals and was benefiting from the opportunity to familiarise herself with the track ahead of the competition.
“Having arrived here early was very important for me. I am now used to the track we are going to use,” Leuta said.
However, her preparations suffered a setback earlier this week when she crashed during training and fractured a rib. Despite the injury, the rider said she was feeling better after receiving medical attention and had decided to compete after testing herself on the track.
“Everything had been well until I crashed on Monday and broke my left upper rib. I went to hospital and on Thursday I went back to ride to test myself and, luckily, there was no pain. So, I have decided to race in the finals,” she said.
Despite the setback, Leuta remains optimistic about her chances and is hoping to improve on her performances at previous editions of the championships.
“I am expecting very good results, even though I feel like there is still a bit of fear. But I still have one more week to work on my anxiety,” she said.
Meanwhile, 17-year-old Maliehe is preparing to make his debut at the prestigious global competition. He is expected to travel to China next week.
Local Pump Track Events Coordinator, Tumelo Makhetha, confirmed that the teenager was still in Lesotho but would soon join Leuta.
“Maliehe is still at home, and he will be there by next week,” Makhetha told the Sunday Express on Friday.
He said the upcoming championships would mark a significant milestone in the young cyclist’s career, as this year was his first time competing in the qualifying events.
“Maliehe will be making his first-ever appearance in the World Championships. He is just 17 years of age, and this year was his first to compete in the qualifiers,” Makhetha said.