Mayho's double victory

FRIDAY, AUGUST 10: Top cyclist Dominic Mayho has had a banner week.

The teenaged rider competed in his first race for team UCC Vivonne in France and won five primes.

He then picked up Digicel as a sponsor.

Mayho, who competed for Team Madison in Bermuda, left for France on July 29 with Philippe Mauduit to train and cycle with UCC Vivonne.

Mayho said: “This is such a great opportunity for me, and while I realize the riding’s going to be tough in France.”

The rider said his first race was 97km.

“The course was mostly flat with one steep climb about one hundred metres long. Since it was my first race for the team UCC Vivonne I decided to cover all the early moves.

“Every lap they had primes — a prize for the first one cross the line — I won five of them but it affected me late in the race. With three laps to go they started attacking each other and I couldn’t go anymore.”

For his effort, Mayho won 50 Euros.

But he picked up even more cash when Digicel announced it was sponsoring him personally, and his Team Madison.

Mayho, has taken the local cycling scene by storm this season. He recently won the Bermuda National Road Race Championships, the prestigious May 24th Sinclair Packwood Memorial Road Race along with several Road Race Series events.

He has also broken a long-standing local Time Trial record this season, and is also the current Adult National Mountain Bike Champion.

Under the guidance of cycling president, Peter Dunne, Mayho only started cycling three years ago when he joined the Bermuda Bicycle Association’s youth programme.

He was quickly recruited by Team Madison, whose founder Phil Trussell, said: “It has been hugely rewarding to watch Dominique progress from a complete novice to a National Champion in such a short period of time. 

“Dominique has a huge talent for bike racing, and this sponsorship from Digicel will assist him in traveling abroad to compete against wider fields, which is essential for Dominique to elevate him into the next levels of cycling.

 “The timing of this sponsorship is particularly good, as Dominique will shortly be visiting France for a two month period to race with the Vivonne Cycling Club under the guidance of UCI Pro Team Saxo Bank director Sportif, Philippe Mauduit. In fact, it was Philippe who took future Olympian, Tyler Butterfield, under his wing in a similar project several years ago.

“Dominique is an excellent role model, has a superb training ethic and we hope to utilize his success and Digicel’s team sponsorship to bring other young Bermudians into the sport, which is currently enjoying a fantastic growth period here in Bermuda.’

Mayho said: “I’m extremely honoured and excited by this sponsorship, which along with the other financial assistance I’ve received from a number of individuals, will help me pursue my cycling ambitions to the very best of my ability.”

Wayne Caines, Digicel Bermuda CEO, said: “This opportunity to support a budding young Bermudian athlete is welcoming to Digicel.  At only 19 years, Dominique has already raised the level of cycling in Bermuda and represents a very positive image for other youths. 

“We are happy to align ourselves with this excellent young man and wish him a successful training experience in France.  I do hope that one day I will have the privilege to witness Dominique Mahyo in the Tour de France.”