Abuja:The 2026 Abuja Chaingang Mountain Bike Festival will serve as a national qualifying event for the 2027 Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) Cycling World Championships in France. This announcement was made by Olatunji Olanrewaju, Chairman of the festival’s Local Organising Committee, at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the collaboration with the Cycling Federation of Nigeria (CFN) aims to provide Nigerian cyclists with opportunities to qualify for international competitions, thereby enhancing the country’s presence in mountain biking. Bashir Mohammed, CFN Technical Director, stated that the festival will identify and qualify cyclists for the Cross-Country Short Track (XCC) and Cross-Country Olympic (XCO) events at the 2027 championships.
The festival, scheduled for November 21 and 22, 2026, will feature the XCC and XCO formats and introduce the Sunrise Hills Mountain Bike Course in Asokoro, Abuja. The course is approximately 4.5 kilometers long and designed to meet international competition standards, featuring steep climbs, rocky descents, and natural switchbacks.
In addition to the competitive events, the two-day festival will include a trail run, children’s mountain bike race, veterans’ recreational ride, city-wide fitness ride, hiking, and camping activities. Participation in the children’s race will be free, and media practitioners, along with other interested individuals, are encouraged to join the recreational cycling events.
The festival also aims to promote fitness, tourism, youth development, environmental awareness, and community engagement. Planned corporate social responsibility initiatives include the restoration of Jigakushi School in Mpape and a road-safety street mural campaign to promote safer road use by cyclists.
Joel Akinluwa, CFN Secretary-General, highlighted the partnership with Chaingang Cycling Club Abuja, emphasizing its role in strengthening the festival’s technical organization and identifying athletes suited for mountain biking. Participants in previous editions have benefited from prize money and the chance to qualify for other international competitions.
Organizers anticipate at least 150 participants for the 2026 festival, and registration is available via the club’s website, www.chaingang.ng. The 2027 UCI Cycling World Championships will take place in Haute-Savoie, France, with mountain biking events set in Les Gets between August 24 and September 5, 2027. The XCC event is scheduled for August 31, while the XCO events will occur from September 2 to September 4, 2027.