French Ambassador to Nigeria Mme Emmanuelle Blatmann has tipped the Nigeria Cycling team for success at the forthcoming 111th Track Cycling World Championships scheduled to hold at the Velodrome Couvert Regional Jean-Stablinski in Roubaix, France from October 20 to 24.
NationSport noted that this is the first time in its history that Nigeria has qualified for the World Cycling Championships, of which only two countries in Africa have qualified to participate in this event: Egypt with 1 participant and Nigeria with four cyclists who will be participating in different events: Ayuba Grace (Time Trial); Samuel Mary (Team Sprint, Time Trial); Ukpeseraye Ese (Team Sprint, Individual Pursuit, and Elimination Race) and Yekeen Tawakalt (Team Sprint, Team Pursuit, and Elimination Race).
While hosting the team to a cocktail at the French Embassy in Nigeria in Abuja at the weekend, Blatmann who was ably represented by Deputy Ambassador of the French embassy in Nigeria, Olivier Chatelias, said the team’s participation shows the rise of the sport in the country and the enthusiasm it generates among the youth and with improved active women participation.
The French Ambassador wished the girls good luck and hope they will climb the steps of the podium, which she believes they will share with the French.
The Nigerian contingent led by the President of the Cycling Federation of Nigerian, Giandomenico Massari yesterday departed the country via Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.