By ADERONKE OJO

The President of Cycling Federation of Nigeria (CFN), Giandomenico Massari, says 52 cyclists are in camp undergoing rigorous final trials selection ahead of the Africa Cup Track Cycling Championship.

Massari told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Tuesday that the trials would help in selecting those to represent Nigeria in the competition’s juniors and elite categories.

The championship which is in its second edition will be in the male and female categories.

It is due to hold from July 14 to July 17 at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja.

“The cyclists are in camp in Abuja presently undergoing final trials,” the federation president said.

He disclosed that there are also five female elite cyclists in camp with the others.

They are in camp to prepare for the 2022 Tissot UCI track World Championship scheduled for Cali in Colombia from July 7 to July 10.

“These five elite cyclists will depart Nigeria for Cali on July 4 to return on July 11. They have been in camp since March.

“When they return to the country, they will join the Nigerian team which will represent the country in the elite category at the championship,” he said.

The CFN President disclosed that the federation has ensured Nigerian cyclists’ participation in competitions at Glasgow in Scotland in April and Milton in Canada in May.

He said this was in order to gather more points and also help them to perform well.

“Right now, we are warming up with five female elite cyclists who will go to Cali for the round three qualifiers series.”

Massari said the Nigerian cycling team was also in high level of preparation for the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, UK.

“We are hoping to acquire enough points to help us qualify for the next UCI Track World Championship which will be held in Saints Quentin in France from Oct. 12 to Oct. 16.

“In the juniors’ team category, we have activities for both the male and female through the UCI Junior Track World Championship in Tel Aviv, Israel from Aug. 23 to Aug. 27,” he said.

NAN reports that the federation had after a National Trials conducted from June 8 to June 12 in Abuja picked for camping 52 cyclists from the 139 male and female who participated.

From the open camping, a final list of 36 male and female cyclists to represent Nigeria at the championship.

For the junior category, 10 male and eight female cyclists will be selected, while in the elite category there will also be 10 male and eight female cyclists.

After this, the federation will begin a closed camp from June 26 to July 17 in Abuja.

NAN reports that Nigeria hosted the championship’s first edition in July 2019 in Abuja, with a contingent of 21 cyclists in both the female and male categories representing it. (NAN)