The six-episode series is the Channel's first dedicated to the sport of cycling, and is available on the digital platform.

Africa Cycling Revolution is a "lively and entertaining journey across sub-Saharan Africa to uncover a new generation of cyclists and shows how the sport is reaching new audiences", programme makers claim.

The series investigates the sport of cycling in Rwanda, South Africa, Kenya, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Congo.

Across Africa the sport of cycling is increasingly becoming more prominent, it is claimed, thanks to a season-long International Cycling Union (UCI) Africa Tour and stage races such as the UCI-sanctioned Tour of Rwanda.

The rise of top riders from the continent, such as Britain's three-time Tour de France winner Chris Froome, who was born in Kenya and first trained there with David Kinjah of Safari Simbaz, has also had a positive effect on the sport's growth.

"Our future is coming and it’s bright," said Kinjah, one of Kenya's most successful cyclists.

"It is still untamed, it is still fresh and it is still pure."

Filmed by a local production company, Africa Cycling Revolution is told through the voices of 30 coaches and athletes.

They include Rwandans Jeanne D'arc Girubuntu, the national champion, and two-time Olympian Adrien Niyoshuti.

Two-time and current reigning African champion Mekseb Debesay of Eritrea and his compatriot, two-time Olympian Yemane Negassi, are also featured.

All six episodes are now available online with the first titled "The Taxi Bike Riders of Thousand Hills".

The general manager of the Olympic Channel, Mark Parkman, claimed at the SportAccord Convention in the Danish city of Aarhus last week that the platform has had nearly half-a-billion video views since it was launched in August.

The figure includes the website, applications, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Weibo.

Parkman also revealed 94 per cent of viewers on social media are under the age of 34, while over half of the views on the main platform are from the same demographic.