Lesotho struggles to send its first team to Worlds

Four top riders from Lesotho lining up for the finals of an elminator race on August 17. From left to right: Phetetso Monese (marathon national champion), Teboho Khantsi (road national champion), Lichaba West (junior cross country national champion) and Tumisang Taabe (elite cross country national champion and President of the National Federation).

Four top riders from Lesotho lining up for the finals of an elminator race on August 17. From left to right: Phetetso Monese (marathon national champion), Teboho Khantsi (road national champion), Lichaba West (junior cross country national champion) and Tumisang Taabe (elite cross country national champion and President of the National Federation). (Image credit: Mark West)

The small African nation of Lesotho is aiming to send its first-ever team to a world championships. The nation has named a total of seven riders to the squad for the 2013 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa starting on August 26.

Sue George is an editor at Cyclingnews.  She coordinates all of the site's mountain bike race coverage and assists with the road, 'cross and track coverage.