Home » TRAVEL EVENT NEWS » Lagos Unleashed: The Inaugural Eko Gran Fondo Cycling Challenge Set To Transform African Sports Tourism Published on
November 16, 2025The city of Lagos, a prominent hub of culture and commerce in West Africa, is officially set to welcome thousands of international and domestic cyclists in the forthcoming year. The unveiling of the inaugural Lagos Gran Fondo, officially branded as the EKO 170 Gran Fondo, marks a significant entry onto the global cycling calendar. This premier 170-kilometre mass participation cycling event is meticulously scheduled to take place on 11 January 2026. The staging of this monumental race is positioned as a critical sports tourism initiative, designed not only to celebrate athleticism but also to strategically showcase the expanding modern infrastructure, the captivating coastal beauty, and the inherent cultural vibrancy of the metropolis, while concurrently promoting vital values such as healthy living and sustainable mobility within the region.Visionary Ambition and Global ParticipationAn impressive level of participation is being anticipated, with expectations set for more than 1,000 cyclists. This diverse cohort is expected to comprise a mix of elite professional athletes and dedicated amateur riders, with entrants being drawn from various locations across Nigeria and internationally. The sheer scale of participation underscores the foundational ambition of the event: to establish the EKO 170 Gran Fondo as a hallmark fixture in the international endurance sports circuit.Advertisement The magnitude of the launch was commented upon by Lekan Fatodu, who serves as the Director General of the Lagos State Sports Commission. The launch was described as a clear reflection of the state’s escalating ambition to feature prominently on the global stage. It was asserted that the EKO 170 demonstrably evidences Lagos’s deep-seated commitment to innovation, sustainability, and the pursuit of global excellence. It was further emphasised that the event unequivocally underscores the readiness of the state to successfully host experiences of world-class calibre, which are designed to inspire the adoption of healthier lifestyles among the citizenry and firmly reinforce the metropolitan area’s standing as a leading African urban centre.A Route Mapped for Safety and Spectacular ViewsThe comprehensive 170-kilometre route has been meticulously designed to ensure both the physical safety of all participants …
