Ukpeseraye: We’re unable to train in Abuja cycling arena… it’s often used for parties

Ese Ukpeseraye says cyclists are rarely permitted to train in the indoor velodrome at the Moshood Abiola stadium, Abuja. 

Ukpeseraye was Nigeria’s lone representative in the cycling event of the just concluded 2024 Paris Olympics.

In a recent chat with CyclingNews, the 25-year-old revealed that the cycling arena located in the federal capital territory (FCT) is constantly rented out for parties, which affects cyclists’ training.

The cycling velodrome was built in 2003 as a section of the Abuja National Stadium. A reported figure of $360 million was contracted for the construction of the entire edifice ahead of the 2003 All African Games hosted by Nigeria.

Ukpeseraye described the arena as “the best in Africa” but added that sports administrators “don’t understand what track is all about”.

She claimed that “they put some nails in the track when they are doing a party, and then when we are riding, we have accidents because there are nails. You have a puncture, and you crash because they nailed the track”.

“We have a very beautiful track. Our track is the best in Africa, but we don’t use it. They don’t give us the permission,” Ukpeseraye said.

“Sometimes we have competition and we want to train in the velodrome but there is a party there and they say we cannot use it, so we take our bikes and we go home. When we wanted to go to Glasgow for the World Championship, we have to be training on the track. But unfortunately, we cannot use the track, because they are using it for parties.”

“It’s just like they don’t understand what track is all about. Sometimes they put some nails in the track when they are doing a party and then when we are riding, we have accidents because there are nails. You have a puncture and you crash because they nailed the track.

“We will have a lot to learn about that because I think if people came here today to watch, they will know that this track is not meant for parties. It’s not meant for other occasions.”

During the Paris Olympics, Ukpeseraye also claimed she had to borrow a bike from the German team to compete in the Keirin cycling event of the Games.