By Kelu Musa
Ace cyclists Momoh Isah and Osaretin Godwin have emerged winners of the female and male classes on the 2026 Abuja Bikers’ Race.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) stories that the athletes completed first of their respective classes on the fifth version of the match held on Saturday on the Federal Secretariat aisles of the town centre, Abuja.
The thrilling competitors attracted cyclists from completely different elements of Nigeria, in addition to biking fans who got here of their numbers to assist their contestants.
Godwin, 18, lined an 80-kilometre course, comprising eight laps of 10 kilometres every, to clinch the feminine elite title.
In an interview with NAN on the sideline, the teenage athlete mentioned her victory was a results of correct preparation and exhausting work.
“It was tough, but we thank God for everything. With the help of my teammates and coach, I was able to win this race.
“I’m looking forward to becoming an Olympic champion through hard training and sacrifice,” she mentioned.
Isa claimed the male senior title after finishing the 110-kilometre race in two hours and 52 minutes.
He informed NAN that the victory had fueled his ambition to compete on the 2028 Olympic Games.
“I feel very excited to be the winner of this race. When you train, you believe in yourself, so you can compete anywhere,” he mentioned.
A teenage athlete Goodluck Ossai gained the junior male class of the race, becoming a member of Momoh and Osaretin as heroes of this yr’s version of the competitors.
According to the organisers, the annual occasion is held to advertise biking and determine rising skills able to representing the nation at worldwide competitions.
Habu Abdulrahman-Ago, Vice President, Cycling Federation of Nigeria and Executive Director of Sports at Yobe State Sports Council, mentioned grassroots competitions had been very important for locating future champions.
“Catching them young is the key. By engaging young athletes in this type of competition, you can identify talent and move them to the national team,” he mentioned.
He recommended Abuja Bikers for organising the competitors, including that grassroots races supplied alternatives to determine promising athletes for nationwide groups.
Also talking, Marian Oluwapidan, founding father of Abuja bikers’race, mentioned the fifth version was assembly its goal of attracting younger folks to biking.
“Cycling is supposed to capture the grassroots, which we are doing. We have a lot of schoolchildren, and the federation is involved in developing them,” she mentioned.
Oluwapidan mentioned cyclists from about eight or 9 states had participated, making the competitors a platform for younger riders to check their skills towards opponents from different elements of the nation.
She mentioned the initiative was additionally selling a stability between training and sports activities, with contributors anticipated to take care of good tutorial efficiency to stay concerned.
Mohammed Bashir, Technical Director of the biking federation, mentioned its technical assist for the competitors mirrored its dedication to discovering and growing younger cyclists.
“This competition is mainly for the youth, to catch them young,” he mentioned.
He known as on organisations to associate with the federation to increase biking improvement.(NAN)
Edited by Joshua Olomu
