Tyler Cole's name rang out loud and clear at the weekend as he was crowned national champion in both the Elite men and under-23 Time Trial event, as well as the elite men and u-23 Road Race event of the T&T Cycling Federation (TTCF) at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba, San Fernando.
The event did not attract the usual large turn out as it normally does, but Cole who recently returned from the Elite Pan American Championships in Lima Peru, was a cut above the rest regardless, and is now in line for selection for the Elite Caribbean Road Championships to be held in Haiti, October 26- 27, along with the equally talented Akile Campbell.
In the opening National Time Trial Championship for elite men and u-23s, Cole destroyed the field to finish first in a time of 51 minutes and 28 seconds for his team DPS. And under being an u-23 rider also, he earned that title as well.
Cole national team teammate Campbell had to settle for the runner-up prize in the elite men category in a time of 52 minutes and 29 seconds for Team PSL, but Nathan Alexander secured the silver medal among the u-23s, while Jason Costelloe (Unattached- 54:24), Christopher Govia (Breakaway - 54:57) and Sheldon Ramjit (Hummingbird- 55:05) completed the top five spots in third, fourth and fifth positions respectively. A day later Cole was at it again in the National Road Race Championship, just getting the better of Campbell for the victory after both finished with the same time. Alexander of Team Woods was third in 4:26.32 and Kemp Orosco of Team DPS was fourth (4:26.32).
Cole, for a second time, also secured the Under-23 title but Alexander claimed the runner-up spot with Orosco taking third.
The next cycling event will be the Criterium on August 24 at 5 pm. The event will be hosted by PSL and the Arima Borough Corporation.
RESULTS
NATIONAL ROAD TIME TRIAL
1- Tyler Cole (Team DPS) 51:28, 2- Akil Campbell (PSL) 52:29, 3- Jason Castelloe (Unattached) 54:24, 4- Christopher Govia (Breakaway) 54:57, 5- Sheldon Ramjit (Hummingbird) 55:05, 6- Nathan Alexander (Team Woods) 56:49, 7- Douglas D'Abadie (Team SR) 57:16, 8- Dillon Pierre (Heatwave) 57.56, 9- Adam Farfan (Survival OS) 59:10, 10- Vidal Ramlagan (Sabres Multi-Sport) 1:00.17, 11- Nikoli Ho (Breakaway) 1:02.01,
U23 MALE: 1- Tyler Cole (Team DPS) 51:28, 2- Nathan Alexander (Team Woods) 56:49, 3- Dillon Pierre (Heatwave) 57:56.
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP ROAD RACE
1- Tyler Cole (Team DPS) 4:19.24, 2- Akil Campbell (PSL) 4:19.24, 3- Nathan Alexander (Team Woods) 4:26.32, 4- Kemp Orosco (Team DPS) 4:26.32, 5- Maurice Burnette (Team DPS) 4:26.32, 6- Sheldon Ramjit (Hummingbird) 4:32.2. U-23 MEN: 1- Tyler Cole (Team DPS) 4:19.24, 2- Nathan Alexander (Team Woods), 3- Kemp Orosco (Team DPS).