Junior Pan Am Cycling gets underway

In the opening event, Men’s Team Pursuit Qualifying (15 laps), reigning Pan American record holders Colombia, topped the field of five contesting nations by clocking a speedy time of four minutes 22.405 seconds. They were scheduled to battle for gold against fellow South Americans Chile, in last night’s second segment, as they clocked the second fastest time of 4:25.791. Going for bronze in the third-place playoff were Venezuela (4:32.409) and USA 4:33.245, who were fourth fastest.

Trinidad and Tobago did not participate in this Junior Pan Am opener but were grinding their gears up for last night’s programme of races - Women Team Sprint qualifiers and final; Men 10km Scratch final; Men 4km Team Pursuit final and the curtain event, Men Team Sprint qualifiers and final.

Spearheading the charge for TT will be multiple Caribbean Junior Road champion Tyler Cole, Nicholas Paul, Jabari Whiteman, Chaquille Henry, Dean Woodsley, Lorenzo Orosco and female representatives Dominique Lovell and Jhordan St George.

However, president of the Trinidad and Tobago Cycling Federation, Robert Farrier, was pleased with the smooth sailing of yesterday’s first-ever UCI-sanctioned event along the track and called on sporting enthusiasts to come out and support Team TT at such a marquee event in regional cycling.

“Things have flowed nicely thus far and we are expecting the same throughout the competition,” said Farrier after the opening event yesterday.

“All the riders are here and team Trinidad and Tobago is for the first time competing on home soil for such a major event. We expect great performances from our youngsters.

These riders are the future of Trinidad and Tobago cycling and the opening of the National Cycling Centre is one of the greatest additions to our sport locally and within this region.

We expect great things to come out of this initiative and we will prove ourselves good enough to host even bigger international tournaments here.”

Today’s Junior Pan Am Schedule Session 1 (noon- 2.30pm) – Women 4km Team Pursuit Qualifiers; Men 3km Individual Pursuit Qualifiers; Men Keirin 1st Round and Repechage

Session 2 (6pm-8pm) – Women 500m Time Trial Final; Women 7.5km Scratch Final; Women 4km Team Pursuit Final; Men 3km Individual Pursuit Finals; Men Keirin 2nd Round and Finals