A six-member contingent will represent T&T at the first leg of the UCI Cycling World Cup on November 8 and 9 in Guadalajara, Mexico, and manager Joel Browne says this meet will give the team solid preparation for the Cental American and Caribbean Games (CAC).Cyclists Quincy Alexander, Kwesi Browne and Jude Codrington, along with Des Dickie (coach), Joel Browne (manager) and Kevin Tinto (mechanic) will leave the country on Tuesday. The trio will participate in the keirin, sprint and team sprint events.
A notable absentee on the team is Njisane Phillip, who has asked to be excused. Last year at the first leg of the UCI World Cup 2013/2014 series in Manchester, England, Phillip won T&T's first ever UCI World Cup medal, grabbing silver in the men's sprint. Phillip, who represented T&T at the London 2012 Olympics, is expected to compete at leg two of the World Cup from December 5-7 in London, England. The third leg will be staged in Cali, Colombia on January 17 and 18, 2015.In a phone interview with the T&T Guardian, manager Browne said: "It is a young sprint team, the main aim (of the trip) is to give them experience."
The track in Guadalajara is above sea level and fast times are expected. "Yes we can expect fast times, but we are not looking particularly for records." Browne added the first leg is an excellent opportunity for the team to build chemistry ahead of the CAC Games which takes place in Veracruz, Mexico, from November 14-30.Browne said national endurance riders Emile Abraham and Varun Maharajh would join the team for the CAC Games and the country could expect medals there.
T&T TEAM: Kwesi Browne, Quincy Alexander, Jude Codrington, Des Dickie (coach), Joel Browne (manager), Kevin Tinto (mechanic)