Nigeria’s Cycling Federation Sets the Record Straight on Ese Ukpeseraye’s Borrowed Bike Controversy

The Nigerian Cycling Federation has stepped in to clarify the whirlwind of confusion caused by a viral social media post from Olympic cyclist Ese Ukpeseraye. The post, which quickly ignited controversy online, appears to have been misunderstood, leading to widespread speculation and concern.

Initially, Team Nigeria’s focus was on a single road race at the 2024 Olympics, with all training and equipment tailored to this event. However, just two weeks ago—after the team had already arrived in Paris—the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) delivered unexpected news: Nigeria was granted additional slots in the Keirin and Individual Sprint events, following the disqualification of another country.

The sudden change required a scramble for specialized track bikes, essential for these events, but very different from the equipment used in road racing. Typically, acquiring these bikes is a process that takes months, but through swift coordination with Ukpeseraye’s European club and a German manufacturer, the Nigerian Cycling Federation managed to secure a track bike just in time.

Despite the chaos, Ukpeseraye is set to compete in the individual sprint event on August 9th, 2024, the race she originally qualified for. The Nigerian Cycling Federation urges the public to understand that the controversy stems from a lack of context in Ukpeseraye’s initial post, which led to a major misunderstanding.

As the Olympics unfold, the federation remains dedicated to supporting Ukpeseraye and the entire Nigerian team in their quest for victory.