Time trial confusion in Carib Champs
Participants of today’s time trial at the Caribbean Cycling Championships (CCC) will have to wait more than 24 hours to learn their fate.“Tomorrow at the award ceremony the official results will be posted,” read an advisory posted on the event’s Facebook page.It is believed that the delay stems from an alleged discrepancy in the women’s time trial that has been brought to the attention of organisers.But this has yet to be confirmed.Representing Bermuda in the women’s time trial were Nicole Mitchell and Zoenique Williams while Shannon Lawrence was the Island’s sole entry in the men’s event.The women’s time trial took place on a 16.7 kilometre course and the men on a 36.1 kilometre course.Today’s event was held in sweltering conditions with participants having the added burden of riding into the wind on the way to the finish.Bermuda coach Greg Hopkins gave his riders’ performance the proverbial thumbs up, in particular senior duo Mitchell and Lawrence.“I thought Nicole had a very good, solid ride,” he told The Royal Gazette. “ She really kept her form throughout the whole ride, especially coming back.“ It was a hilly, a very strong head crosswind on the way back to the finish on the second half and she rode it very well I thought.”As for Lawrence, Hopkins added: “Shannon had a much longer time trial and the second half of the route out was quit exposed and the wind conditions had a tremendous effect but he was obviously riding extremely well.“He passed three riders on the way out to the turnaround and then he did go through a patch where he appeared to be in difficulty on one of the bigger hills when he was clearly having some problems with his right leg.“ But he stuck in there and then settled down again and started to pick up the pace again and pass another two riders on the way in.”The CCC continues tomorrow with the road race featuring all five of Bermuda’s riders.The top eight finishers in the men’s race and top six among the women will qualify for next year’s Central American & Caribbean (CAC) Games in Mexico.Representing Bermuda in the men’s road race are Dominique Mayho, Darren Glasford and Lawrence.Mitchell and Williams will fly the island’s banner in the women’s event.There are 110 cyclists from 20 countries competing in this year’s championships.