Cyclists seeking Caribbean gold for Bermuda

FRIDAY, OCT. 19: Bermuda’s team arrived in Antigua this afternoon ahead of the INET Caribbean Cycling Championships, which is contested this weekend. 

Some 20 plus countries from the region will be represented by approximately 100 athletes who will compete in the time trial on Saturday and the road race on Sunday.

Team Bermuda is comprised of Nicole Mitchell, Darren Glasford, Geri Mewett, Mark Hatherley and Dominique Mayho. 

All members will contest the road race while Mitchell, Hatherley and Mayho are also entered for the time trial.

With a women’s field of 15 riders, Mitchell will be hoping to repeat her strong performance in 2010 when she took home the bronze medal in both disciplines. 

At the same competition in Guadeloupe, teammate Flora Duffy won both races. 

Competition

As a solo rider Mitchell is likely to come up against strong competition from and Antiguan Tamika Butler as well as a skilled team from Puerto Rico.

Mayho, who has dominated local racing for the better part of the last 18 months, will be getting his first exposure to the top level of regional racing, having won the Junior Champion title in 2011. 

Following his two month training stint in France this summer he is eager to find where his fitness is relative to the strong athletes from Guadeloupe, Martinique, Barbados and the other power-houses of the Caribbean. 

Out-paced

Mayho will be supported by Mewett, Hatherley and Glasford in the road race. 

Hatherley earned the second Bermuda time trial spot two weeks ago when he out-paced Glasford in a duel for the additional assignment.  Glasford and Mewett will take on the supporting role of looking after Mayho in the road race, working to keep him in a strong position in the peloton and covering attacks from other teams. 

Mewett’s extensive experience makes him the natural choice as captain of the team and will be another opportunity to develop Mayho’s understanding of racing tactics.

The time trial starts early Saturday and follows a 12 mile course of which the women will complete one lap and the men two.  Sunday’s road race is 84 miles for the men and 42 for the women.

Peter Dunne is the president of the Bermuda Bicycle Association.