HUMID conditions were the order of the day at the 11th edition of the Junior Caribbean Cycling Championships held here last Sunday at an 87.6 kilometre race. Despite the conditions, however, it was another poor showing by St. Lucia cyclists following last year’s dismal performance at the same level.
From a field of 50 starters, only 37 cyclists from 20 participating countries completed the event which was held around a 12.4 kilometres circuit on the Vieux Fort- Laborie Highway and comprised seven laps. As predicted, the French speaking territories of Martinique, Guadeloupe and French St. Martin dominated the top five spots.
The event was won by Phaeton Collins of Guadeloupe in a time of 2 hours 18 minutes 53.36 seconds. Martinique’s Jordan Plumbert was second in a time of 2 hours 18 minutes 53.71 seconds. Third was Jeremy Deloumeaux in a time of 2 hours 18 minutes 56.73 seconds. In fourth place wasAlbanClerc in 2 hours 18 minutes 58.96 seconds, fifth place Damas Anthony in 2 hours 19 minutes 34.47 seconds.
St Lucia’s Andrew Norbert was 22nd across the finish line in a time of 2 hours 21.53 seconds and Calixte Williams 36th in 2 hours 34 minutes 59.54 seconds.
In the Juvenile men’s race that also took place on Sunday and consisted of 5 laps, Trinidad and Tobago Jabari Whiteman picked up his second medal at the championships winning in a time of 1 hour 41 minutes 01.27 seconds. Sebastien Arcade of Martinique was second in 1 hour 41 minutes 01.83 seconds, third wasKianny Noel of French St. Martin in 1 hour 41 minutes 01.91 seconds, fourth Arphexad Dylan in 1 hour 41 minutes 02.06 seconds. St. Lucia’s best finish at the championship Kluivert Mitchel was fifth in a time of 1 hour 41 minutes 02.20 seconds.
In the women’s division 1 lap, Puerto Rico’s Jougna Baez – Jimenez won in a time of 1 hour 38 minutes 00.89 seconds. Second was Alysa Rowse of Bermuda in 1 hour 38 minutes 01.00 seconds and third was CharlietteGolderos – Truillio of Puerto Rico in 1 hour 38 minutes 01.08 seconds. The top three women also medaled the day before in the Time Trials.
The time trial was held on Saturday on the Millennium Highway but with just a handful of spectators taking in the action. In the Junior Men’s category, Tyler Cole of Trinidad and Tobago was first across the finish line in 32 minutes 26.07 seconds, followed by Alban Clerc of French St. Maarten in 32 minutes 33.90 seconds and Phaeton Collins of Guadeloupe third in 32 minutes 34.22 seconds.
St.Lucia’s participants in that event were Andrew Norbert who finished 8th in 33 minutes 47.47 seconds and Calixte Williams who did not finish after riding for 18 minutes 50.58 seconds.
For the Juvenile Men, Kaden Hopkins of Bermuda took 1st place in 15 minutes 28.71 seconds, followed by Jeffery Diaz Rivera of Puerto Rico in 15 minutes 44.48 seconds and Trinidad and Tobago’s Jabari Whitemen third in 15 minutes 44.75 second .
St. Lucia’s participants in that event Kluivert Mitchel finished 18th in 18 minutes 09.87 seconds and Jesse Mentor 19th in 18 minutes 18.73 seconds.
In the girls’ category, Bermuda’s Alyssa Rowse won in 17 minutes 13.66 seconds. CharlietteGolderos – Turillio of Puerto Rico was second in 19 minutes 13.22 seconds and Jougna Baez – Jimenez also of Puerto Rico third in 19 minutes 23.07 seconds .
