Cycling is an agonistic sport where the ability to maintain great efforts for a prolonged period of time marks the differences between the great stars of the category and the rest of the athletes.
For years, Europe has emerged as the dominant continent compared to the rest of the world, but there has been another clearly underrepresented region both in number of figures and in magnitude of their appointments within the cycling ecosystem. Whether in stage races or one day classics, African cyclists have appeared in drops.
Returning to the initial definition, nothing should make us think that Africa cannot be capable of generating elite cyclists. In fact, we could think the opposite, since countries like Kenya are true factories of successful long-distance runners, athletes who are top in the world at an agonistic level.
However, the reality is that only 9 cyclists of the 531 that make up the Men’s World Tour in 2023 are African. In addition, among the 18 teams in the top category of world cycling there is no formation established in Africa either. But is there any explanation for this lack of representation or are they simply not able to reach the required level?
The reasons are diverse but if we must use a concept to encompass what happens, it will be necessary to point to sociocultural factors. It would be completely wrong to think that the African population has physical conditions that are genetically inferior to the rest. It is in the environment where inequality is found, not in the athletes.
To give a positive example, it is no coincidence that Kenya has more professional long-distance runners than the rest of the world combined. The fact that some municipalities in the country are totally dedicated to athletics, such as the case of Iten where half of its population is dedicated to running, added to the fact that a large part of the country is above 1,500 meters of altitude, is generated an ideal cocktail for its inhabitants to shine when running. The environment accompanies them, it is not that they have superior genetics.
The same thing happens with cycling, but in reverse. It is not the fact that there is a lack of tradition, but the reason for this lack of tradition. At this point the biggest blame lies with the economic factor. Elite cycling is an expensive sport and just as in running only good shoes are essential to compete at the highest level, the economic cost of entering the highest categories of cycling skyrockets: bike, wheels, clothing, shoes, power meter … A cost that the African population can hardly afford, far from the resources enjoyed by an average European.
To add inconvenience, many areas of Africa have a much lower density of asphalt than other continents in the world and without roads there is no space to practice road cycling. The infrastructure of each country plays a key role so that its athletes have real options.
The problem is not in the cyclists, it is in the opportunities they have compared to the rest of the world. With resources and support, it is inevitable that the African presence will reach the international squad and the case of Eritrea is the spitting image of this.
The Eritrean government has been making a clear commitment to national cycling for years and it is now when they are reaping the first fruits. Biniam Girmay’s victory in the Giro last year was a historic event for African cycling and for Eritrea in particular.
The case of Eritrea, which is already beginning to show its head in the World Tour with four riders, or that of South Africa itself, which already experienced that impulse in its cycling at the beginning of the century, show that when there are resources, Africa can also be there . It is not an easy path, it is not a fast path, but if little by little more nations join this commitment to cycling, there are more than enough reasons for Africa to leave behind this lack of representation that it has historically had in the cycling world. .
