FG’s readiness to invest in grassroots sports excites cycling community
Pitstop Lagos cyclists
Published By: Taiwo Okanlawon
By Taiwo Okanlawon
The General Manager of Pitstop Lagos, Mr Opeyemi Adegboro, has expressed delight in the Federal Government’s readiness to invest in the development of grassroots sports, especially the cycling community in the country.
Adegboro, who spoke in Lagos on Sunday during the December 2023 criterium, highlighted the community’s activities in the year, stating the community’s commitment to good health and fitness.
According to him, “We are very grateful to the Minister of Sports Development for gracing the criterium with his presence in October.
“The elite cyclists are all happy to see that the Federal Government is indeed showing interest in grassroots sports development because that is what Pitstop community is actually doing, especially developing cycling at the grassroots.”
He also noted that the cycling community is willing to produce top-tier elite cyclists representing Nigeria in African competitions and beyond in 2024.
“The cycling community is investing so much in the cyclists, especially the elite cyclists. We sponsored them to Cape Town earlier this year (March) to participate at the Cape Town cycle tour and Sierra Leone in April. So at the continental level, we have started this exposure this year, 2023 and we intend to take it further in year 2024,” he said.
Adegboro added that, “Pitstop community is aimed at improving health, fitness and general wellness. The community is a mix of recreational riders, those who ride for health and fitness, professional cyclists, and elite cyclists.
“The Pitstop Lagos criterium is a monthly race and we usually do it every last Sunday of the month. Throughout this year, we’ve been racing and this one that has just been completed is the grand finale for the year 2023.”
Innocent Emmanuel, winner of the N500,000 grand prize for the first position at the race, said: “I feel so great because it is a dream come true. Throughout the year, I have been struggling to win a race. Many thanks to our sponsors, they are really making it very easy for us to showcase our talents”.
Pitstop Lagos: Winners at December 2023 Criterium
Eyo Effiok, who represented the team that emerged as the best at the race, Craneburg, expressed gratitude to Pitstop for organizing the criterium and for doling out the cash prizes to his team.
He said: “It was a very tough ride today. This is my third win. I have won twice with Access Bank team, but I am happy to win for Craneburg today because I represented the team during the last criterium and I had a crash despite being in a better position at the race, which made me lose. I am happy to have represented them again and won this time.”
Other winners, including Azeez Odebiyi, Abideen Odebiyi, Preye John Dede, and Fashanu Favour, emerged as 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th, and they got the cash prize of N300,000, 200,000, N150,000 and N100,000 respectively.
The 28-loop race was sponsored by Access Bank, Craneburg and Ilubirin.
