Job done as Bateson, Martin brave the heat

Team South Africa’s two cyclists at the 2026 Youth Olympics, Madison Bateson and Yahyaa Martin, came out of their first international race with reputations enhanced, after going wheel-to-wheel with strong global opposition at the fourth such Games staged, and the first on African soil.

Bateson finished 12th, an admirable effort in a strong field where 20 riders headed for the line in a bunched sprint after 59.5km, while Martin crossed the line in 27th in his 76.5 km race.

After cooling off away from the harsh Senegalese sun constantly bouncing heat off the burning tarmac, Bateson reflected on an impressive Youth Olympics debut.

“From the start it was quite difficult,” Madison, from Ballito (KZN), said after being given a time of 1hr 31min 19sec for the one-off final, contested in sapping 32°C heat which saw six of the 35 cyclists drop out during the race.

“The Russian rider (Angelina Novolodskaya) made her attack shortly after the start and from there it was a challenge to try to catch up to her in the final sprint. The course was quite flat so we always knew it would end up in a sprint. I think I positioned myself quite well but I could not quite push up the leaderboard. I am very happy with how I raced for my first international road race.”

Bateson’s 12th place finish is made more merit-worthy considering that the 16-year-old, who celebrates her 17th birthday on Friday, is not a road specialist.

“I started cycling when I was six years old and I started with mountain biking. I travel overseas often to compete in mountain bike events and races, so the transition to road has taken some adjustment but I am happy with the level I am getting to.”

The 17-year-old Martin did not have the same opportunity to cool off after his race as he was ushered to the mixed zone after being given a time of 1:48.03, all from the same group of 18 riders, which was 59sec behind the winner.

Dripping in sweat with a towel around his neck, Martin shared his thoughts on his performance. “I am happy … I think it was all going to plan and I was running in the second pack in 12th position. However the heat was very intense and I ended up cramping which resulted in me losing some pace. Other than the cramp, I am very pleased with my race.”

The teenager from Paarl in the Western Cape has been preparing for the Youth Olympic Games for months, with the highlight of his preparation coming in October. “I travelled to the mountains of Kenya to help me train for the altitude. This was the best thing I could have done because it prepared me so well for the conditions here. It was a similar altitude and the heat was similar too. I think it would have been very difficult to cope in these conditions if it had not been for my preparation.”

For Martin, this was his first race against international competitors and he shared the great experience he has had with the sporting world at the Youth Olympics. “It has been so cool getting to know many different people and trading pins has been a lot of fun. I think there has been some friendships made for life and I am so honoured to be a part of Team South Africa.”

The future is bright for both these cycling prospects. However, their journey along the strip of Dakar’s Corniche West is not over. The time trial event takes place on Tuesday and the pair will be looking to end off with impressive showings on the road.