Leemisa Thuseho

LESOTHO’S 2020 mountain bike (MTB) national cross-country championship silver medalist, Eric Ramohanoe, is eyeing a podium finish in this year’s annual Santa Fe MTB race in Bloemfontein on Saturday.

A fortnight ago Ramohanoe opened his season racing in the Ionia Farm MTB Challenge in Free State finishing fifth.

The cyclist told the Sunday Express on Friday that he will be out in full force spurred by his good performance in the last race. Had he not crashed during the race; he would have finished in the top three.

“The Saturday race will be my second race this year and I promise no words but just to work harder and secure a podium finish… I want to perform well and impress my sponsors,” Ramohanoe said.

While South African riders are known for their fast pace, he intends to use his climbing skills.

“In my last race I was confident that I would win because I am good at climbing, it’s just that the crash cost me a podium finish. I am glad that I made my presence felt by every rider who was there.

“I led the pack from the start along with one rider, Pieter Korkie, until we both fell, then three riders who were chasing us took over the lead until the end. I hurt my left leg when I fell and I failed to regain my speed and was forced to settle for a slower speed.

“What I must do now is to put more time on riding my bike. I train six days per week therefore; I think I am still on the right track.”

Ramohanoe first represented Lesotho in 2016 during the African Continental Games, hosted at Afriski, in Butha-Buthe.

In 2017, he was part of the team that went to the Bahamas’ Commonwealth Games as well as the World Championships in Australia. In 2019, he competed in the African Continental Games in Namibia.