The National Cycling Road Championship sponsored by the Rivers State government ended with fanfare Sunday in Port Harcourt with Bayelsa and Delta States’ cyclists emerging champions in the Elite men and women categories.
Topmost male and female cyclists, Krotimi Abaka representing Bayelsa State and Ese Ukpeseraye representing Delta State emerged winners in a time of 3hrs, 48mins, 26.02 secs and 2hrs, 34mins, 24.2secd respectively.
Both cyclists earned the top prize of N600,000 each, the highest so far in the history of cycling in Nigeria while the second place finishers in both categories, Bethel Okeyah of Rivers State and Mary Samuel of Delta State both earned N400,000 each.
The bronze medal winners the Elite Men and Women categories are Adeniran Okpeyemi from Lagos and Happiness Ernest from Rivers State respectively.
Precious Effiong of Rivers won the Men Junior while Cleopas Funkebi of Bayelsa and Bazeet Odebiyi of Delta won the silver and bronze medals respectively.
The Women Junior gold went to Patience Ottuadong of Rivers State while the silver and bronze went to Divine Ogbe of Edo State and Aishat Arogundade of Delta State respectively.
In his remarks, President of the Cycling Federation of Nigeria, Chief Giadomenico Massari commended the Rivers State governor, Barrister Nyesome Wike for sponsoring the Championship and his support for the federation.
“This Championship, through the support of the Rivers State Government, has established a high bar and a new record in cycling events in Africa and it is our desire to sustain the momentum for posterity”, the CFN president stressed.
