Pascalinah Kabi
SETIBING — Sixteen-year-old Wade Young made history yesterday when he became the youngest man to win Roof of Africa in Bushman’s Pass (Khalong la Baroa) in Setibing.
For winning the Roof of Africa, Young pocketed M16 000 and a trophy.
Young, a South African riding Yahama bike, also broke last year’s winner Graham Jarvis’ 18 months unbeaten record.
Jarvis finished third while three-time winner Chris Birch was nowhere near top ten.
This was Young’s first competition in the Roof of Africa yet he wrecked havoc in the predicted list of possible winners.
He completed yesterday’s competition of 148 kilometres in 7 hours 52 minutes.
He also ended South Africa’s four year Roof of Africa title drought.
Young, who started the Roof of Africa’s Round the House and Time Trial sections on Thursday as an underdog, made a name for himself on Friday when he outclassed world’s top riders.
Out of nowhere, Young outclassed Jarvis, Birch and other top riders by easily and spectacularly climbing the Free Fall (Ha Ralejoe) to cross the line first on Friday.
He never showed any signs of exhaustion yet Friday is known as “the start of man against nature”.
For finishing ten minutes ahead of Jarvis on Friday, Young had an advantage of starting the race the same minutes ahead of his chaser yesterday at Thaba-Khupa.
He continued with his dominance and when he came first at Bushman’s Pass in the first lap. However, critics warned him not to be fooled as many believed Jarvis still had a chance to win.
The second lap is normally the highlight of “man against nature” and “boys will be separated from men” slogans as most inexperienced riders fail to finish it.
Yet he reversed “boys will be separated from men” slogan and outclassed men who started competing while he was probably in his nappies.
Jarvis is 37 while Birch is 32 years old.
“It is an amazing, indescribable feeling to have won the Roof of Africa,” Young told the Sunday Express after crossing the finish line.
He said Roof of Africa, dubbed The Mother of All Enduros, was the most difficult race he has ever competed in.
“I pushed both my mind and body so hard and the spectators were incredible in helping me win this race,” Young said.
“While Roof is the toughest race for me so far, I am looking forward to competing and defending my title next year although I can’t make any promises,” he said.
Fellow countryman Altus de Wet came second, twelve minutes after Young.
Jarvis, from UK and affectionately known as The Best in the World, got a consolation third position and had this to say for his failure to defend the title: “This year’s race was faster, especially the first day (Round the House and Time Trial),” Jarvis said.
“Young is good and deserve to have won the race today.
“I am coming next year to try and challenge for the title again,” he said.
Sports minister Thesele ’Maseribane, who watched Young both on Friday and Saturday when he crossed the finish line, congratulated him.
He told this paper Roof of Africa is the only successful sport in the country because of good administration.
“I have been coming to watch the Roof since day one because I wanted to first understand it and see how Lesotho Off Road Association (Lora) handles it,” ’Maseribane said.
“I have seen that sponsors are willing to pour money into its organisation and running because there is good governance in its administration,” he said.
He however said the organisers need to start finding practical ways for the locals to benefit from the race.
“People from Free Fall must be trained and given stalls to sell traditional food, attire and dances for these tourists.
These children from Nazareth, who came to here (Bushman’s Pass), must be given a task to clean this place and be rewarded with stationery and these
riders must ask their sponsors to donate branded schoolbags,” he said.