Local cyclists made to suffer in humid conditions in St Lucia

IN the absence of someone to feed them with water and power drink/bar in humid conditions at the 2016 Junior Caribbean Cycling Championships in St Lucia over the past weekend, Guyana’s junior cyclists suffered throughout the 87.6km cycle road race on Sunday.According to reports, from a field of 50 starters, only 37 cyclists from 20 countries completed the event which was held around a 12.4km circuit on Vieux Fort, Laborie Highway in St Lucia and comprised seven laps, totalling 87.4km.
Among the 37 finishers were Guyana’s four representatives in Christopher Cornelius who placed 16th in a time of two hours 21 minutes 32.69 seconds (2:21:32.69). Andrew Hicks finished 18th (2:21:89.46), Raphael Leung placed 19th (2:21:48.28) and Jornel Yearwood ended 28th (2:21:55.42).
The report went on to state that Yearwood was well positioned in the main pack of five, but because he was not being fed with water on a humid afternoon he started to cramp and was eventually sucked in and dropped by his rivals.
From information received, Cornelius, Leung and Hicks tried to protect Yearwood by keeping the main chasing pack under control, but that tactic failed as the three Guyanese in the chasing pack also had a hydration problem as there was no one to feed them despite there being the presence of neutral feeders on motorcycles, whose job it was to feed all cyclists regardless of which team they are representing.
The report pointed out that Guyana’s team coach Randolph Roberts fell ill with a headache and could not have been on hand to assist, while the team’s manager Marc Sonoram was mobile, but in a car provided by the St Lucian authorities and was not allowed to feed from the vehicle.
The report stated that even though the Guyanese wheelsmen handed their water bottles to the feeders on motorcycles, the bottles when replenished were given to other cyclists.
The event was eventually won by Phaeton Collins (2:18:53.36) of Guadeloupe. Second was Martinique’s Jordan Plumbert (2:18:53.71).
One day earlier (Saturday) Collins had won the bronze medal in the time trial, while Plumbert was 11th.
Meanwhile, Guyana’s lone competitor in the five-lap race for juveniles, Zaman Khan on debut to the Regional competition placed 31st of 34 competitors. Khan was timed at 1:58:02.97.
Trinidad and Tobago’s Jabari Whiteman won the event in 1:41:01.83, while Sebastian Arcade of Martinique finished second in 1:41:01.83.