Ajilete Grand Fondo Cycling Championship Ends In Grand Style
The maiden edition of Ajilete Grand Fondo Ogbomosho Cycling championship came to a successful end on Thursday, December, 18, 2025.
Organized as part of activities to celebrate the 2025 edition of the Cradle festival in Ogbomosho, the carnival like cycling event which attracted more than 400 cyclists from various states and clubs in the country was flagged off at the Soun of Ogbomosho Palace.
The ride took the cyclists to the Oba of Iseyin Palace and back to Ogbomosho with enthusiastic crowd linning the streets of the two towns to cheer on the cyclists.
Speaking at the end of the championship, the sponsor, Adebayo Majolagbe while expressing happiness with the large turnout and a successful event, described it as his own little way of developing the sports of cycling in the country.
According to him, the championship became necessary in order to discover many hidden talents in the communities just as he explained that chosing Ogbomosho and Iseyin was to showcase to Nigerians the rich cultural heritage of the two communities.
” I’m a proud son of Ogbomosho and chosing to have this championship here, is to let Nigerians realize that there are a lot of hidden talents in our rural communities.
” You’ll also realize that all over the world, Grand Fondo championships are done in rural areas because the commercial cities are busy and too noisy. Also because of the good road from Ogbomosho to Iseyin, it became necessary we hold the championship here and as you can see, all the participants are happy.
” I also believe that this championship apart from helping in promoting the sports is going to help in building a cordial relationship between the Cycling Federation of Nigeria and the two towns,” he said.
The United States based
Majolagbe while revealing that plans are already on for the second edition which he promises will be more glamorous, commended the Cycling Federation of Nigeria for their support and other sponsors who believed in him and sent in their token of support.
Coordinator of the championship, Femi Thomas while expressing his deep appreciation to the sponsor, posited that with people like him, cycling sports will achieve greater height in the country
Thomas a board member of Cycling Federation of Nigeria who also doubles as the Chairman of Ogun State Cycling Association, expressed happiness that the championship was hitch free, promising that the Cycling Federation will continue to create enabling environment for sponsors to identify with it.
He however appealed to government and corporate Nigeria to invest in cycling as the sports is capable of winning laurels for the country at international championships.
Coach of Edo State team, Angela Okoro Uchechi whose female riders outclassed their counterparts from other states said they look forward to the second edition.
” I’m happy with the championship because it helps to keep the athletes busy and text their skills. Am equally happy that my girls won all the medals in the U-16 category which I will attribute to hardwork, good training schedule and perseverance.
She also commended the sponsor for putting together the championship which she said is good for the development of the sport.
” I must give kudos to the sponsor because it’s not easy for one individual to sponsor this type of championship which we’ve not had for a long time. We’ re looking forward to the second edition where we hope that both the elite athletes, juniors, youths and veterans will be part of the event.
She also explained that the championship enabled her to have a feel of Ogbomosho culture such as dressing, beads and dances which she described as awesome.
In their own assesesment of the championship, 60 year old Pastor Abi Keyinde and Bukky Badimosi of Psychology Cycling Club, explained that they were overwhelmed by the good organization of the event and are looking forward to the next edition.
In the words of Pastor Keyinde who rode with others from Ogbomosho to Iseyin and back to Ogbomosho, ” As you can see, I am looking fit and agile. Cycling makes you look smart and young and I enjoyed every bit of the ride.
The Man of God who said he started riding two years ago with his mountain bicycle, before converting to road bike, said there’s need for the Federal Government to be involved in the second edition and make it big like ‘ Tour de France which he said Rwanda is trying to do now.
In his remarks, Nigerian’s cycling veteran, Ajibade Quadri of Oyo State said he was happy riding at Ogbomosho after riding in many parts of the world, describing the route as beautiful.
” I’m very happy to be part of this race because I have not witnessed Ogbomosho terrain before. I was at the World championship in Glasgow, England in 2023, Dubai, 2019, Côte d’Ivoire, South Africa, Morocco, Egypt, Rwanda and Cameroon, just to mention but a few and now riding in Ogbomosho to Iseyin for the first time gives me joy”, he stressed.
Meanwhile at the end of the championship, Efo State U-16 female riders made up of Godwin Esther Osarhemen, Halilat Aruna and Ojizele Elizabeth Ada, won the first, second and third positions respectively.
In the boy’s U-16 category, Asiru Ibrahim of Lagos State, came first followed by Martin Samuel of Oyo State and Yakub Khaleed of Osun State.
Winners got medals and cash prizes.
The two Monarchs His Royal Majesty, Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye Orumogege 111, Soun of Ogbomosho, and Oba Sefiu Olawale Oyebola, Adeyeri 111, the Aseyin of Iseyin, gave their blessings to the cyclists.
