Young cyclists excel in Pennsylvania
Junior cyclists Mark Godfrey, Gabriella Arnold and Kamryn Minors produced podium displays at last weekend’s Nicole Reinhart Memorial Tour de FCCC in Maxatawny, Pennsylvania.Godfrey and Minors finished second overall in the boys and girls 17-18 age groups while Arnold was third in the girls 15-16 category.Godfrey finished the two-day event with a bang after winning the criterium, thanks in no small part to the solid support of team mates Vashon Cann and Deshi Smith.Minors and Arnold were the most consistent performers among the local team. Minors finished second in the time trial, road race and criterium while Arnold finished third in all three stages of the event.Just missing out on a podium display was Daniel Oatley who finished fourth in the time trial.Nathaniel Hartwig, Justin Ferreira, Nico Barclay and Daelan Richardson all put in strong efforts in the road race and criterium, gaining experience in controlling the tempo of the race and maintaining a favourable position in the pack.Accompanying the Island’s junior cyclist in Pennsylvania was Bermuda Bicycle Association (BBA) president Peter Dunne who was impressed with the team’s solid showing.“They all raced really, really well,” he said. “I think the older boys now have this sense of cohesiveness that didn’t exist at the same level before we went to Pennsylvania.”The main objective for Bermuda’s junior cyclists at last weekend’s event was to help them prepare for this month’s Junior Caribbean Cycling Championships in the Dominican Republic.Dunne said the Island’s junior cyclists exceeded expectations.“They did very, very good and beyond mission accomplished,” he said. “I think we are well ahead of where we expected to be in terms of our Junior Caribbean Cycling Championships preparations.”Also accompanying the local team in Pennsylvania was manager and top cyclist Darren Glasford.