PRESIDENT of the Trinidad and Tobago Cycling Federation, Rowena Williams, has lauded the efforts of the sport’s local fraternity following the successful hosting of this nation’s two biggest cycling events, the “Njisane Three-Day Cycling Festival” and Easter Grand Prix.
Over the past two weeks, the concrete tracks at the Arima Velodrome and Skinner Park, San Fernando, came alive with some of the world’s and TT’s most prolific riders going at it for top honours in various divisions.
With the likes of London Olympic Men’s Sprint silver medallist, Gregory Bauge (France), Czech Republic’s Tomas Babek and Mexico’s Daniela Gaxiola all in the mix, the local athletes were kept busy going up against several top regional and international talents on home-soil.
According to Williams, events such as these play an integral part in the overall development of our present and upcoming national representatives.
“These two events brought a lot of competition to our cyclists which has helped them boost their morale and where they have fallen short in their development,” she said. “The coaches also had open opportunities to identify weaker areas where more work should be put in. This gives them a chance to analyse and evaluate. I’m sure that the cyclists themselves were pleased with the amount of race-time they got on the track as well.”
The TTCF head admitted that the inclusion of such decorated riders augers well for the sport and its budding enthusiasts. She acknowledged the importance of motivating younger ones to join the sport of cycling, which has been receiving significant attention from the authorities and the public alike over the past few years. Williams also noted that the benefits from such internationally acclaimed events can only derive positive outcomes from a still developing national outfit.
“It boosts them all round and influences a lot of newcomers into the sport. Events such as these bring new blood into cycling. When parents bring their kids to the Easter Grand Prix or Njisane Three-Day Festival, they are visibly excited and want to be a part of cycling. It was an excellent experience and one that we look forward to putting on again in years to come,” Williams added.
As is customary with TT culture, the visiting riders were on the receiving end of great hospitality by locals. Williams lauded the local athletes for their constant overflowing camaraderie towards the visitors and was proud to see this nation’s representatives working together, sharing information and experience with the foreigners.
In conclusion, Williams stated, “Every time we bring international cyclists here, there is always a strong camaraderie amongst them and the locals. A lot of the visiting riders are always pleased to speak of our friendly nature, hospitality and warmth that us Trinbagonians offer.
On many occasions, the visiting riders don’t even want to go back.”
After two action-packed international events, the TTCF now returns to the local circuit for the upcoming National Championships scheduled to ride off next month. This meet, like the previous two, will be used by locals to prepare themselves ahead of the XX Commonwealth Games and other major meets that follow in the latter half of this year.