T&T cyclists will spring into action today at the London, England Tissot UCI Track Cycling World Cup at the Lee Valley VeloPark.
The T&T cycling team of Njisane Phillip, Nicholas Paul and Kwesi Browne failed to be among the qualifiers at the Team Sprint, Keirin and match-sprint qualifiers in Berlin Germany two weeks ago, but they are hoping for improved performances starting today with the team sprint. At the Berlin team sprint, the T&T trio finished a distant 10th overall in a time of 44.353, needing to break into the top eight to be among the qualifiers.
And later in the series Browne just missed out on qualification for the keirin by the skin of his teeth with second place finishes in both his heat and the repercharge, while Paul and Phillip had to settle for credible performances in the match sprints.
National coach, Canadian Erin Hartwell in a release said his team responded very well to his training since Germany, and the reality is that his riders had very good results there by virtue of meeting expectations at that world cup.
"Our overriding and primary goal is to maximize Olympic qualification points for what is a two-year process. We're focused on consistent results at each event and staying in the top eight in Olympic qualifying for the team sprint," Hartwell said.
He further explained, " This is the highest level of competition. All teams are at their best in an effort to qualify for Tokyo. We missed 6th place by 6/100ths of a second in Berlin in the team sprint. Nicholas Paul qualified 6th against the strongest field in history. We're in a very good spot right now. We're staying on plan for London. Nothing was adjusted; training was as scheduled."
There have been no concerns of injuries by the riders which is a welcomed sign for Hartwell. After today's team sprint, Browne will again plunge into the keirin tomorrow morning, before the duo of Paul and Phillip begin their quest for match sprint honours on Sunday.