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New Bermuda cycling boss Peter Dunne is aiming to make the sport more inclusive and open it up to a new generation of future riders.

Dunne, who is already director of the CD&P Bermuda Grand Prix, was voted in as the new president of the Bermuda Bicycle Association at its annual general meeting last week.

He'll be assisted by a board of directors, including former pro cyclists Kris Hedges and Elliott Hubbard and Vic Ball.

Dunne said he wanted to expand on events like the youth mountain bike series, which was launched at the Botanical Gardens on Saturday.

He said a development plan would be put together to help make the sport more accessible to local children.

The new cycling boss said that he hopes that in the next twelve months the Bermuda Bicycle Association can make some meaningful progress in making the sport available to more people in Bermuda and to introduce to many the joys of riding, both recreationally and competitively.

"We understand that in order to continue to produce recent talent like Tyler Butterfield and Kris Hedges, we need to get more children regularly participating in this sport.

"Events like the current Tokio Youth Mountain Bike Series offer a perfect opportunity for youngsters to try riding in a race situation but where the course is very safe and the environment controlled."

Outgoing president Francois Bertrand told the meeting that the BBA had held more than 30 events during the past year and had sent riders to junior and senior Caribbean Cycling Championships.

With 2006 having been deemed a success on many fronts, the new year of cycling in Bermuda brings several major overseas competitions, including B World Championships in South Africa, Island Games in Rhodes as well as the Caribbean Cycling Championships which will be held in Barbados for junior riders and Martinique for senior men and women.

The new BBA Board of Directors:

Peter Dunne - President

Vic Ball - Vice president

Nigel Godfrey - VP development

Ed Jordan - Treasurer

Kris Hedges - Director

Elliott Hubbard - director

Francois Bertrand - Past president

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