A sole cyclist from Saint Lucia is in the Land of Many Waters this weekend, as the Guyana Cycling Federation hosts the Elite Caribbean Cycling Championships for the first time.
Beneath the banner of the Caribbean Cycling Union (CCU), regional riders will compete in time trial and road events in men’s and women’s elite and Under-23 divisions.
Saint Lucia is being represented by a self-financed rider, Stanislas Winston ‘Stonny’ Williams, whose participation is being facilitated by the Saint Lucia Cycling Association (SLCA).
According to senior officials from the federation, Barry Volson also took up the offer but was unable to travel. SLCA president Cyril Mangal is in Guyana for CCU meetings, and will support the senior athlete during the race on Sunday.
La Clery bus driver Williams emerged as National Time Trial Champion in June, winning the 32km National Championship in a time of 51:57.2, averaging 36.79km/hr.
He also won the 48.8km Andy Mangal Memorial Race in 1:25:22, just one second ahead of Gillan Moses, and three seconds ahead of Fidel Esnard in a thrilling finish.
On Saturday in Guyana, time-trial competition will be held for elite women (18km), Under-23 women (18km), Under-23 men (36km), and elite men (36km).
On Sunday, athletes will be engaged in individual road racing from 9 a.m. Elite and U23 women will go over 85km on the Mandela/Eccles/Heroes Highway. Men in the elite and U23 categories will take on a 155km event. Male riders will take in a circuit along the Linden Highway along the East Bank Corridor to the Heroes Highway.
The November 1-4 gathering also includes the annual Congress of the CCU, which Mangal will attend.
Over 20 member countries and territories are present, including Anguilla, Barbados, Bermuda, Belize, Cayman Islands, Cuba, Curaçao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Haiti, Jamaica, Martinique, Puerto Rico, Saint Lucia, St Vincent & the Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad & Tobago.
PHOTO: Winston Williams (centre) is competing at Caribbean Championships.
