January 30, 2013 at 5:54 p.m.

Pan Am Games next target for Butterfield


By James [email protected] | Comments: 0 | Leave a comment

Tyler Butterfield warmed up for a crack at the Pan Am Games podium by claiming the national cycling championships this weekend.

Butterfield, who has endured a tough first year on the pro circuit, said it was nice to have the honour of being Bermuda's national champion - something that should earn him a special jersey from his pro team Slipstream.

The rider, who held off a persistent challenge from Garth Thompson to claim the crown at Southside on Sunday, was always likely to win the road race as the only pro in the field,

But, even so, he said it was an important title for him.

"It's definitely a race that it's nice to win because it means you have that title. At pro level, winning your national title often earns you a jersey and a bonus from the team. I don't think I'll be getting a bonus for winning the Bermuda title but hopefully I'll get a jersey.

"When I tell people in Europe that I'm from Bermuda I often get asked if I'm the national champion. It will be nice to be able to say 'yes'."

Butterfield, who missed the event last year as Wayne Scott edged out Thompson for the title, is back in Bermuda for his brother's wedding before he heads to Rio next month after being granted a wildcard entry for the Pan Am Games.

"From a personal point of view I'd like to run a good race. I don't feel I'm in the kind of form or have the background of races leading up to it to expect anything.

"I'm not going there expecting much but sometimes when you do that you come away with a good performance.

"Some of the South American riders are very strong so there will be tough competition. I'm not going with the mindset of getting a medal I just want to try and have a good race,

"I don't have any team-mates so that makes it pretty simple from a tactical point of view. You don't have to rely on anyone else. You know what you have to do and if you have the legs on the day you can do it."

Butterfield, who is on a mid-season break from his pro team, said he was looking forward to training in Bermuda,

You may see him out on the roads over the next few weeks, slugging it out behind his friend's motorcycle.

It's a common training technique used by cyclists to reduce wind resistance and mirror the conditions of the pelaton - occasionally making breaks past the bike for short intense bursts of training into the wind.

"It's a boring job for my friends who ride the motorcycle but they don't mind doing it, I have great support and great friends that are willing to help me out. It's worth it because the quality of training when I do that is so much better."

Butterfield admits it's been a tough first year on the pro circuit, with illness and lack of motivation, affecting his form.

"It's tough out there. If it was easy everyone would be doing it. It definitely takes time. I haven't had the best run with my health.

"It's hard when it is not going well but it's definitely been an interesting experience. I'm looking forward to the second half of the season to try and get more comfortable in the pelaton. I've got to stay consistent and stay motivated."

Butterfield's girlfriend Nikki Egyed, who will race in the Tour of Italy next month, won the women's road race on Sunday.

But it was Dee McMullen, the top island resident over the finish line, who claimed the crown.

McMullen said: "She (Egyed) is in a different league but I thought I raced pretty well against her.

"She got off on a break with a couple of the guys but I was still in a pretty good pack and thought we might have caught them but it didn't happen."

Nobody really threw down a challenge to McMullen for the local crown as she crossed the line with a pack from the guys' race.

"It became a pretty fast race once we caught up to the men and I feel really confident having had that kind of race before the Island Games."

McMullen, who medalled in the road race in Shetland two years ago, heads to Rhodes on Thursday night with the Island Games contingent where she will compete for Bermuda in the road race, time trial and criterium.[[In-content Ad]]

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