Uganda’s arguably best female cyclist, Miria Nantume, was among the hundreds of cyclists flagged off on Friday for the Jubilee Live Free Bike Race taking place this weekend.
The Masaka Cycling Club rider, who has completed training stints with the UCI World Cycling Centre development squads in South Africa and France, will be among the top contenders to watch.
“This is going to be my first time, and I’m very excited to go because I used to just watch it live on TV, on my phone, or YouTube,” Nantume said.
Nantume missed out on the event back in 2021 after a crash left her with a severe cut near her left eye socket, forcing her to watch from the sidelines as a spectator.
“But now I’m going to be competing live, you know? I feel very happy, and I believe I’m going to be on the podium. Not in an arrogant way, but I feel it coming.”
With an impressive resume, having served as the Women’s Captain for Masaka Cycling Club, led the Ugandan national squad at events like Tour de Burundi, and competed on global virtual platforms like Zwift, her confidence is well-founded.
It should be remembered that Nantume was the first Ugandan female to win a medal at an international cycling event, a silver medal in the Junior Women’s division at the 2024 African Continental Championships in Eldoret, Kenya, splitting top Eritrean contenders to secure her place on the podium.
