Cyclists have medal hopes

FRIDAY, AUGUST 12: Bermuda’s promising cyclists have left no stone unturned in pursuit of success at this weekend’s Junior Caribbean Cycling Championships in Puerto Rico.

Dominique Mayho, Tre-Shun Correia, Mark Godfrey and Vashon Cann have spent countless hours on the bike and pumping iron in the gym to enhance their chances of glory in the lead up to this year’s two-day championships featuring a time trial and road race.

Peter Dunne, Bermuda Bicycle Association president, said: “They spent January, February and March in the gym at Berkeley Institute so they started the year much physically stronger than they were the previous year.

“They have trained harder than most adults in Bermuda and are really committed to the sport, and that’s why they have been chosen to travel to Puerto Rico.”

Mayho and Correia held their own in a formidable field at this year’s Natwest Island Games and have now set their sights on bigger and better things in Puerto Rico.

Dunne stressed: “This is the one event that they have focused on shining in. This is their chance to do something great, and they both seem to be motivated for it.

“They have really been working hard at this and the international exposure they have had this year is definitely a class above where they are tested locally.”

Mayho and Correia, the current junior national time trial and road race champions, will compete in the boys 17-18 age group along with Cann.

Godfrey, who won a silver medal at last year’s Junior Caribbean Cycling Championships in Aruba, is competing in the boys 15-16 age group along with Daelan Richardson and Deshi Smith.

Gabby Arnold and Molly Pilgrim will fly the island’s banner in the girls 15-16 age group.

Dunne added: “This is definitely the largest team we have ever taken and it’s a pretty good group.

“Our guys are really in great shape and look really good. But you never know who is going to show up on the day, and so I’m trying to be cautiously optimistic.

“Mark was second in the road race last year and looks stronger this year along with everybody else, while Dominique and Tre-Shun are more experienced. It’s going to be a very interesting two days of racing.”

Dunne said this year’s Junior Caribbean Cycling Championships will be an “eye-opener” for the likes of Smith and Richardson, who are competing overseas for the first time.

He also reckons the island is capable of producing a podium finish in the girls 15-16 age group in Puerto Rico.

In order to be selected for this weekend’s championships members of Bermuda’s eight-strong team were required to compete in top adult categories and also attain various time trial standards (average speeds over distances).

While in Puerto Rico the island’s representatives will compete against junior cyclists from 16 countries within the Caribbean region and will be coached by Dunne and Nigel Godfrey.