The first Nigerian cyclist to compete in the Olympics and the only African on the list at the ongoing tournament, Ukpeseraye Ese, has revealed that she had to borrow a bicycle from German team before she could compete in the women’s sprint of the cycling track.

Ese revealed that she had a very short notice to compete at the Keirin and Sprints and as such had no bicycle to race with on the tracks.

The multiple gold medalist said on her timeline on X that the German team came to her rescue by offering her a bicycle to compete with.  

The statement, "Due to the short notice of me competing at the keirin & Sprint, #teamNigeria I had no bicycle to race with on the tracks.

"In d spirit of sportsmanship the German team @bunddeutscherradfahr came to my rescue by offering me a bicycle. Thank you."

An X account, @WMNcycling confirmed the development by joining to thank the German team for providing Ese with a bike.

It said, “Special thanks to the German track team for providing @Ese_Ukpeseraye with a track bike after she received a late call up for the Keirin and Sprint event at Paris2024.

Ese’s participation in the Women’s Road Race ended after a valiant effort that saw her and several other riders fall short of completing the race.

The race reached its pivotal moment at the Cote des Gardes, a formidable climb that tested the endurance and resilience of the cyclists.

It was here that Ukpeseraye, alongside competitors from various nations, was unable to maintain the pace with the leading peloton, resulting in a ‘Did Not Finish (DNF)’ status.

Indeed, Ukpeseraye’s historic debut for Nigeria at the Olympic cycling event in Paris was a groundbreaking moment for Nigerian sports.

Ukpeseraye’s qualification marked the first time Nigeria had ever competed in the Olympic cycling events.

In spite of her failure to finish the race, Ukpeseraye’s determination and courage on such a prestigious stage did not go unnoticed.

Reflecting on her performance, Ukpeseraye said she remained positive and focused on the broader impact of her participation.

“It was an honour to represent Nigeria at this level. Although I couldn’t finish the race, being here is a victory in itself.

“I hope this paves the way for more Nigerian athletes in cycling,” she said.