Edo’s Godwin Osaretin and Enugu’s Isah Momoh Win Abuja Bikers Race Titles

Posted : 20 October 2026

Cyclists representing Edo and Enugu states emerged champions in the women’s and men’s categories at the fifth edition of the Abuja Bikers Race, held in Abuja on Saturday, October 17, 2026. The competition attracted participants from nine states and renewed calls for stronger grassroots cycling development in Nigeria.

Godwin Osaretin of Edo State won the women’s race, while Isah Momoh of Enugu State claimed the men’s title. Their victories highlighted the potential of young Nigerian cyclists as the country looks to strengthen its representation at major international competitions.

Osaretin, 18, completed the 80-kilometre women’s race over eight laps of 10 kilometres each. She credited her success to hard work, teamwork and the guidance of her coach.

The young cyclist is currently training at the national camp under the supervision of national coaches. She said her ambition was to become an Olympic champion and stressed that she was prepared to make the sacrifices needed to achieve that goal.

“I’m looking forward to be an Olympic champion,” Osaretin said.

She explained that her national team training followed an earlier cycling competition in Abuja on October 4, where her team emerged victorious. The experience has provided another opportunity for her to develop her skills and prepare for higher-level competition.

Momoh Targets 2028 Los Angeles Olympics

In the men’s category, Isah Momoh completed the 110-kilometre race in two hours and 52 minutes to secure the title. He described the victory as an exciting achievement and acknowledged the contributions of fellow competitors.

Momoh said regular training had strengthened his confidence to compete beyond his home state. He also expressed his ambition to represent Nigeria at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

“It’s all about training. When you train, you believe in yourself, so you don’t have any doubts. You can go anywhere and compete,” he said.

His victory adds to the growing ambitions of Nigerian cyclists seeking opportunities to compete at the highest international level. The 2028 Olympics remain a major target for athletes hoping to earn national team selection and represent the country on the global stage.

Cycling Federation Calls for Grassroots Development

Vice President of the Cycling Federation of Nigeria and Executive Director of the Sports Council, Dr Habu Abdurrahman, commended Abuja Bikers for organising the competition. He described grassroots races as essential platforms for identifying young athletes and preparing them for national and international events.

“Catch them young is the key. By engaging young athletes in this type of competition, you can identify talent and move them from the grassroots,” Abdurrahman said.

He added that the federation would work with promising cyclists identified through competitions. Their performances would help technical officials assess their readiness for higher-level events and potential national team opportunities.

The fifth edition also featured schoolchildren, providing another avenue for the federation to discover young talent. The involvement of younger participants reinforced the importance of introducing cycling to children and creating opportunities for them to develop their abilities.

Organisers Seek Wider Participation in Cycling

Abuja Bikers Race founder Marian Oluwapidan said the competition was achieving its objectives by attracting more participants and encouraging young people to take up cycling.

She explained that professional coaches from the federation were already involved in training young cyclists, while additional competitions were being planned to strengthen their development.

Oluwapidan said the initiative was driven by the ambition to expand Nigeria’s representation in cycling at major international competitions, including the Olympic Games. She also stressed that cycling deserved greater recognition alongside more popular sports.

“Everybody must not play football. Everybody must not do basketball. People want to ride, so let’s encourage it because cycling is fun,” she said.

She pointed to Abuja’s road network as an opportunity to promote cycling and argued that Nigeria had talented young athletes who could excel with the right support, training and exposure.

The race highlighted the importance of sustained investment in grassroots sports, coaching and competitive opportunities. For Osaretin and Momoh, their victories provide further motivation as they pursue bigger ambitions, while the organisers and federation hope the event will help develop a stronger pipeline of Nigerian cyclists for future international competitions.

Edo’s Godwin Osaretin and Enugu’s Isah Momoh Win Abuja Bikers Race Titles

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