Bermuda To Host Junior Cycling Championships
Bermuda is set to host the 2018 Junior Caribbean Cycling Championships in a month’s time, the Bermuda Bicycle Association announced.
The event is the annual championships for cyclists aged 15 -18 from the region and has served as a springboard for several of Bermuda’s top cyclists in pursuing the sport internationally. XL Catlin is supporting the event as the title sponsor along with regional sporting organizations [PASO & COPACI] and several local businesses.
The competition will feature some of the best junior cyclists from regional powerhouses such as Trinidad and Tobago, Puerto Rico and Barbados as well as a strong Bermuda team.
Leading the local squad will be Alyssa Rowse and Matthew Oliveira, both gold medalists from the 2017 event as well as Kaden Hopkins and Nicholas Narraway. The full Bermuda team will be presented in the coming weeks as athletes complete their preparations.
Racing will take place on Saturday, August 11th and Sunday the 12th with a time trial and road race and includes three categories. The males are divided into two groups, 15/16 year-olds and 17/18 year-olds. All of the females will be racing in a single category.
BBA President Peter Dunne sees hosting this event as beneficial to the Association’s development efforts on several levels. “This will be the second time that we have served as hosts for this competition and our goals are the same in 2018 as they were in 2009.
“Firstly, we want to put on quality races for all competitors. The BBA has consistently maintained an active racing calendar for our members and our experience in running events of this size and nature should help us deliver a strong weekend of competition.
“Secondly, this is a rare opportunity for our junior riders to face strong competition on home soil. Each year we travel to the Caribbean with a team of athletes and they have consistently demonstrated the strength of our local athletes.
“And finally, by hosting the event we hope to encourage more Bermuda youngsters to try the sport of cycling, helping us make even further strides in growing the sport locally”.
Patrick Tannock, President of the XL Foundation, XL Catlin’s Bermuda-based philanthropic unit, points out that the sponsorship is aligned with the company’s focus and track record of youth development.
“We are proud to be the title sponsor of the 2018 Junior Caribbean Cycling Championships,” he says, “especially as they will be held here in Bermuda. This is a good opportunity to visibly support our young cyclists and to showcase their talent.”
Bermuda cyclists winning titles at the competition include Alyssa Rowse [2016, 2017], Matthew Oliveira [2017], Kaden Hopkins [2016], Gabriella Arnold [2012], Daniel Oatley [2012], & Moly Pilgrim [2011] & Dominique Mayho [2011].
