No spot for cycling in Guyana’s Commonwealth Games contingent
Guyana’s cyclists have been denied the opportunity to represent their homeland at the Commonwealth Games in Australia.
Guyana’s cyclists have been denied the opportunity to represent their homeland at the Commonwealth Games in Australia.

By Michelangelo Jacobus

WITH just 54 days to the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast, Australia, Guyana’s contingent that was hoping to fly the Golden Arrowhead Down Under has received disappointing news.

Prior to past weekend, the athletics department was in disarray with the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) in a conundrum in respect to the final selection of athletes.
It was recently brought to the attention of Chronicle Sport that the Guyana Cycling Federation (GCF) was told by the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) that there is no place in the contingent for them.

This baffling development is an insult to the sport community in Guyana and a slap in the face of our young cyclists and the GCF, who are looking for development, growth and exposure not only here at home but also abroad.

Cycling is one of the most consistent sports in Guyana, year in year out. Almost every weekend National cycling coach Hassan Mohamed organises races at the inner circuit of the National Park and on the roadways as well.

Sponsorship for cycling and cyclists is already practically non-existent and the handful of sponsors who have remained committed to the sport must be given kudos.
Only recently the GCF, under the stewardship of Horace Burrowes, began receiving the Union Cycliste Internationale’s (UCI) support and now at this juncture when the sport has started to make upward strides it is dealt this hand by the GOA.

A source in the GCF administration who spoke to Chronicle Sport under cover of anonymity said that the GOA head told the GCF that there was no place for them as they are not a medalling sport; However, it should be pointed out that the majority of the other sport disciplines do not medal at the games. In fact Guyana’s last two medals at the games came in Delhi (2010) and Manchester in 2002.

With the cycling fraternity turned away, one young cyclist told Chronicle Sport that he was actually preparing for the Commonwealth Games. Jamual John who was last year’s best cyclist said that he was disappointed as he worked all year for the opportunity to represent Guyana at the games, his dreams of going to the Gold Coast has been dashed. However, the youngster has vowed that he will not let this daunt his spirit.
In 2017 Guyana’s cyclists performed creditably at a few international events, markedly improved than in previous years.

The Pan-American Cycling Championships road race was held in the Dominican Republic where in the U-23 category, Guyana had Hamzah Eastman, Jamual John, Andrew Hicks and Romello Crawford.

In the 98-mile race Andrew Hicks managed to stick with the 10-man breakaway pack throughout the distance but in the final 10 miles he was plagued with cramps and was swallowed up by the chasing pack which contained Eastman and John.
The duo finished 23rd and 25th out of 85 riders which was a very good performance from the Guyanese. It also marked the first time that Guyana took part in that level of Pan-American Cycling championships.

The Pan-American Cycling Federation involves North and South America and provides the highest competition in the western hemisphere of the globe with some of the world’s best cyclists.
To reject an entire sport and deny young athletes the opportunity to prove themselves and represent their homeland is deeply disturbing and downright disrespectful.

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