The Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games are under way in Senegal, with the road cycling events still to come. According to the Union Cycliste Internationale calendar, the women's and men's road races are scheduled for 8 November, followed by individual time trials on 10 November. The two starts ask different questions of the same young riders: how they handle a moving group and how well they can hold a pace on their own.
The cycling programme has 84 entrants, split evenly between 42 women and 42 men. Every rider is set to compete in both events, giving spectators two ways to see their strengths. Positioning and decisions as the race unfolds matter in a road race; the time trial puts the rider's individual effort at the centre. That contrast makes the programme engaging even for those watching youth road cycling for the first time.
The Games run from 31 October to 13 November and mark the first Olympic sporting event held in Africa. Dakar's Corniche Ouest is designated as the start and finish area for the road events. The Atlantic setting provides a vivid stage, while the sporting story will emerge across two distinct races: first a shared contest, then a ride against the clock. The results remain to be decided on the road.