Mangroo heads to Belgium

CARIBBEAN road cycling champion Stephen Mangroo will leave shortly for a three-month competitive stint in Belgium, regarded as the mecca of the sport.

The Guyana-born naturalised Trinidad and Tobago citizen leaves on May 19 for his second spell at top Belgian racing team, Bouwelse Wielervrienden.
Last year Mangroo finished on the podium several times but was still trying to come to terms with the weather, the high level of competition and the testing cobbled streets of the Central European country. According to Ed Watson, Public Relations Officer of the TT Cycling Federation, Mangroo this time is much better prepared for the challenges. “He has been training hard for the last four months with a new programme tailored to suit the demanding high speeds and power climbs of the Belgium circuit. Stephen has also got himself a new carbon fibre bike, built by the great Belgium champion and five-time Tour de France winner Eddy Merckx. “It is the same brand of bike that just won the Tour of Flanders and the toughest race of all, the Paris-Roubiax called the ‘the hell of the north’,” said Watson yesterday.

The bike, designed by Merckx in Belgium and handcrafted in Italy using individual measurements of the cyclists handed in when the bikes are ordered six months in advance, cost more than US$7,500. Watson has high expectations for Mangroo and believes he can up his level of performance in the next three months and climb up to Category Three Trade status where he can be entitled for payment as a true professional on the European circuit. Mangroo will have all his needs taken care off in Belgium as he is afforded all courtesies including meals, accommodation and bike by the Bouwelse Wielervrienden. Watson said the new bike is certain to bring Mangroo’s equipment on par with his fellow competitors on the tough Belgian circuit.

He said Mangroo was introduced to the regional distributor of the Eddy Merckx bikes in Curacao when the big Amstel race was staged there last year. Since then he has been outfitted with the world class bike and Watson has since accepted a proposition to be the local agent for the much sought after equipment. Mangroo said yesterday he aims to do well and return for the National Championships which will gain him eligibility for the World “B” Championships in Switzerland in July. Among those who have made Mangroo’s stint in Europe a possibility are: Stephen Bobby Ramroop of Daisy’s Exclusive; Troy Sabeeney of Troy’s Auto and Millennium Car Rentals; George Janoura of Janouras Custom Design; Steve Castagne of M&M Insurance; Barry Edgill of Algico; Brian Abraham of the  Fitness Centre. There were other private individuals who contributed but preferred to remain anonymous said Watson.