Ellina Mhlanga Zimpapers Sports Hub
RISING cyclist Rohnan Nicholson feels motivated as he braces for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games following a podium finish at the CAC Road Cycling African Championships recently.
The continental event took place in Kisumu, Kenya with some of the continent’s best talent taking part in different categories.
Nicholson went all out in the Junior Men’s category producing a spirited performance to win the gruelling 119,8km road race in 3:06:12.
“I feel amazing about the victory. It still feels unreal.
“I knew that I had put in the training to be able to walk away with something but it’s always race dynamics that come into play whether it would actually happen,” Nicholson said.
The promising cyclist concedes it was a close contest going up against Africa’s best.
“The competition was at the highest level. It is the African Champs, so the best in Africa were racing,” Nicholson said.
The victory came just days before the Youth Olympics in Dakar get underway.
The Games are scheduled to run from Saturday to November 13 with Senegal welcoming around 2 700 young athletes from across the globe.
For Nicholson, his gold medal at the continental championships is a confidence booster as he takes to another big stage in a few days.
“It gives me the confidence for Dakar and the spirits are high, so now it’s just about how well I can prepare myself for the race.”
Zimbabwe have 12 athletes that will be part of the Games and Nicholson is the country’s sole representative in cycling.
He said it has always been a dream to make the YOG, and the goal is to get a podium finish.
“Dakar is very important for me. Ever since I heard about the race it has always been a dream. Then when I heard that I was selected (to be part of Team Zimbabwe), it has been a dream to walk away with something from that race.
“It has been a good build up to Dakar with being overseas for this year racing with the best in the world.
“My expectations, I would like to walk away from the race with a podium position.
“I know I have put in the work to do it so I have high expectations,” Nicholson said.
As part of his preparations for the Youth Olympics he spent most of his time racing and training for
Watersley R & D Cycling Team Men’s Under-19 based in Sittard, Netherlands.
The Dakar 2026 YOG mark the first Olympic sporting event to be staged on African soil.
