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Innocent Kurira, Sports Reporter
Have Zimbabweans been sold a dummy by a pro-cyclist based in South Africa, who claims to have ‘“cycled” from Midrand, South Africa to Bulawayo in 48 hours?

The matter has been a subject of debate on social media platforms, with some disputing Meli Ndlovu’s claim that he left Midrand on Saturday at around 3am and reached Bulawayo on Monday at around 1pm.

Ndlovu on Monday told Chronicle Sport that he was cycling at an average speed of 40km to 45km per hour on the South African side and 21km to 25km/hour on the Zimbabwe side because of the damaged roads which meant he had to constantly give way to trucks.

Perhaps the country is sitting on a gem who could actually win the Tour De France.

“According to my Strava App it took me 19 hours 28 minutes to get to Bulawayo. You must consider that this app stops whenever l stop the bike. It’s sad that after l have managed to do such a thing there are people who want to talk about how l am being funny in this whole issue. This is no joke.

“What l can tell you is l have had time to rest and whoever is doubting what l did can come and we race. I am raring to go. The bike that I am using is an international standard bike and it’s really fast. I hear people talk of how l boarded cars during the journey, that is not true.

“All those that are doubting can make a date. We can cycle to Gwanda or Maphisa for me to just show people what this bike can do,” said Ndlovu.

While some have celebrated Ndlovu’s resolve to embark on such a gruesome journey, a section has questioned the time which Ndlovu claims to have completed his journey.

A local cycling coach said he was finding it difficult to believe that he completed the journey in 48 hours.

“You have to be phenomenal to achieve that. I have a strong team that l am coaching now, but what this guy is saying is impossible. I am not sure how much of a professional he is, but what l am telling you is l have a young group of cyclists and even them cannot achieve that.

“The basic truth is the further you go, the slower you become, but according to the time he gives it’s really impossible honestly. I have been cycling for the past 20 years and I have never heard or seen anything like this. He should send his stats where he was recording.

The times he mentions are for the top guys, and even they can’t maintain the time he’s mentioning,” said the coach, who declined to be named.

The now popular cyclist is unemployed due to the Covid-19 pandemic and is surviving through cycling competitions, donations from individuals and other part time jobs such as gardening and painting.

Ndlovu says he also has a class of 15 cycling students he coaches in Tembisa, South Africa. – @innocentskizoe