Uganda’s Ali Ssali put his endurance and pacing to the test on Tuesday as he took to the road for the men’s individual cycling time trial at the Dakar 2026 Summer Youth Olympic Games.
Competing over an 8.5km course along Dakar’s Corniche Ouest, the Ugandan clocked 13:54.68 to finish 38th in a field of 38 ranked cyclists, gaining valuable experience on the international stage.
Despite the demanding nature of the race, Ssali was happy with how he approached the course, particularly his ability to maintain his pace on the flat, wind-exposed coastal route overlooking Dakar’s western seafront.
The course presented an interesting test for the young cyclists. Although largely flat, it included a small 300-metre climb at the U-turn, positioned approximately four kilometres from the start and finish line. The rest of the 8.5km circuit was flat, leaving riders to contend with the exposed coastal conditions while trying to maintain their speed.
With temperatures at 30°C and clear conditions, the race demanded a combination of endurance, rhythm and careful pacing.
Ssali recorded an average speed of 36.661km/h, finishing 3:44.48 behind race winner Timotej Michalik of Slovakia, who stopped the clock at 10:10.20 with an impressive average speed of 50.147km/h.
Italy’s Lorenzo Ceccarello finished second in 10:17.94, while Belgium’s Daan Wilmsen completed the podium in 10:20.39. Zimbabwe’s Rohnan Nicholson was the leading African finisher, placing fifth overall in 10:29.54, while Ethiopia’s Legese Gebreslasie finished 20th in 11:07.98.
For Ssali, however, the race was another opportunity to measure himself against some of the world’s promising young cyclists and experience the demands of competing at a major international multi-sport event.
His performance brought Uganda’s cycling participation in the time trial to a close, with the young rider having taken on a course that offered little room to hide, particularly with the coastal winds and sustained effort required over the distance.
While the final position may not have been what he hoped for, Ssali’s appearance in Dakar provided an important competitive experience as he continues his development in cycling and represents Uganda on the international stage.
The clock may have stopped at 13:54.68, but the experience gained from racing against an international field is another milestone in Ssali’s sporting journey.