T&T's cyclist Teniel Campbell on Wednesday placed fifth overall in the elite women’s time trial at the Pan American Road Cycling Championships but rode the fastest time among all riders under 23 at the competition taking place in Pachuca de Soto, Mexico.
In further underlining her class as one of the region’s top road cyclists, Campbell who won the Caribbean Road Cycling time trial in October and the Central American and Caribbean Games (CAC) road race; has now graduated to continental excellence when she crossed the line in 30 minutes and 40.631 seconds for yesterday’s win in the 22km Under-23 time trial.
Costa Rica’s Jennifer Morales placed second (31:35.584) and Cuba’s Jeydy Pradera placed third (31:35.584).
Campbell becomes the first T&T women’s cyclist to ever achieve a medal at the Pan American level while the 21-year-old rider also extends a purple patch of success. The athlete, who rides for the World Cycling Center trade team in Switzerland, became the first-ever T&T cyclist to win a tour stage at Women’s Tour of Thailand last month. That feat, as well as he general consistency, helped Campbell surge up 69 places on the UCI rankings to be ranked 83rd as at April 14 and into an Olympic Qualifying position.
Meanwhile, Campbell’s countryman Tyler Cole placed eighth in the men’s U-23 33km Road Time Trial in Pachuca. Cole completed the race in 44:56.830. The race was won by Chile’s Diego Ferreyra in 41:10.375 with Ecuador’s Alexis Quinteros second (43:06.018) and Honduran Luiz Enrique Lopez third (43:20.444).
Cole will race again in the men’s 140km road race on Saturday while Campbell will be aiming to extend her winning ways tomorrow when she starts in the women’s 88.2km road race.