Kaduna Cycling Association to Introduce Monthly Race

The Kaduna State Cycling Association is to introduce a state monthly race for cyclists to improve the standard of the game.
The association’s team Manager, Samila Usman, disclosed this in an interview yesterday in Kaduna.
Usman said the introduction of the state monthly race would not only improve the standard but attract more players to the game in the state.
He said monthly races offer significant benefits for cyclists, local communities, and event organisers.
According to him, regular competition acts as a powerful catalyst for athlete development, community engagement and sustained physical health.
“These monthly races help in developing the performance of the athletes and also bring youth into the cycling sport. The monthly race will also make the state dominant in the cycling sport in the country.”
He said cyclists train more consistently when they have a concrete, recurring deadline and a monthly race provides a perfect short-term goal to keep athletes focused.
Usman said racing requires specific skills like drafting, cornering in a pack, and tactical positioning.
“Frequent racing allows cyclists to test strategies, learn from mistakes, and improve much faster than they would through solo training.”
He added that monthly events serve as an excellent fitness benchmark for cyclists to measure their power, endurance, and pacing improvements under identical or similar competitive conditions.
The coach also said that introduction of the monthly race will help sustain motivation.
“It is easy to lose focus during a long ‘off-season’ but monthly events eliminate long gaps without competition, preventing burnout and keeping motivation levels high year-round.
He appealed to individuals, companies and other stakeholders to support the game by sponsoring the monthly cycling competition just as it has been practiced in other states like Lagos, Port Harcourt, and other neighboring states.
According to him, the state participated and did extremely well at the just-concluded Abuja National Cycling Championship.
“Kaduna state presented one of the best teams in terms of grassroots and also did very well at the competition, excelling with podium finishing medals at the finish of the race.
“Kaduna happens to be the home of champions as it has produced many that represent the country both national and international.
“We have produced cyclists that represent the country at the All Africa Games, World Championship, Commonwealth Games, Junior Olympic, Olympic, and many more champions—and not only the representation, they won medals for the country.
He said the success wouldn’t have been achieved without a grassroots programme, which aligned with the present administration of Gov. Uba Sani.
He appreciated Uba Sani and the Commissioner for Sports
for the support to the team who participated in the championship at Abuja.(NAN)