Paris 2024: Cycling federation clears air on Ukpeseraye’s bicycle

Contrary to news making the rounds that Nigeria’s sole entrant for the Paris Olympic Games, Ese Ukpeseraye didn’t have a bicycle to participate at the Games, the Cycling Federation of Nigeria, CFN has debunked the story as a wrong presentation of the fact.

President of the CFN, Engr. Giadomenico Massari told Sports Vanguard that Ukpeseraye only qualified for the Road Race and she was prepared for that event in terms of training and equipment, adding that her participation for two track events, Kerin and individual sprint was an emergency following the disqualification of an Egyptian track athlete.
The CFN president stressed that the track events require a very special equipment which is “approved specifically for the Olympic track event and it requires many months before it can be delivered and through our supporter and equipment sponsors, we were able to get the bike for the competition.
The German team is in partnership with our supporters and sponsors and the arrangement was made to prevent her missing the competition.
Our track bikes which have been used for world championships cannot be used because they are not approved for Olympics. We only got all the approval by the UCI (cycling world body) and the IOC yesterday (Wednesday). Ese Ukpeseraye has been able to train and race in the Kerin event and tomorrow (today) she will race in individual sprint.