Exchange programme sends cyclists to Cuba

The West Indies versus the World Cycling Series, now in it’s fourth year, has set up relationships between participating countries. One of these unions has given birth to an athlete exchange programme between Trinidad and Tobago and Cuba. A group of local cyclists have been under the scrutiny of officials of Phillips Promotions who have focussed their abilities and training attitudes and put the group through the VOMax test over a three-month period. Three athletes, young and promising Shannon Metivier and David Alves; and the versatile, accomplished Elisha Greene have emerged from this crop of cyclists to leave on Saturday for  the grueling three-week programme. The 25-year-old Greene has been pushed into the role of team captain on merit of his experience and the fact that he has been to Cuba prior to this trip.
 
Alves, an endurance rider, trained in Belgium in 2003, and Metivier were part of a Trinidad and Tobago team which toured the United Kingdom ahead of their participation in the “B” World Championships in Switzerland last year. Greene was full of praise for the younger members of the team and said that he expects the trio to become part of the West Indies team. He is confident in their abilities going into the Cuba programme and stated that he was looking forward to working alongside them. The eldest member of the team, Greene said he believes that they will return better than they left Trinidad and Tobago and hopes they will be able to express their ability on the track against the Rest of the World in the series. Greene plans to help the West Indies team retain the title. In the buildup, Greene’s has been laying a foundation which would prepare him for the intensity of the programme while Metivier has seen positive results from his work with coach Simon Chung. Alves works with Gene Samuel and has boosted his morale and physical state, painting a picture of a ready team.

Metivier was grateful for the opportunity to further develop his talent and like the other cyclists has been afforded the opportunity. He thanked Phillips Promotions and all supporters and contributors to the programme for their vested interest. Being the youngest member of the contingent, Metivier, at 19, has proved to be an inspiration to the young cyclists in Arima where he resides. His performances for the Madonna Wheelers Cycling Club and appearances for Trinidad and Tobago at the Palo Seco and Southern Games  has made Metivier into a peer-role model and has revived interest in the discipline among the youths of the borough. Alves has expressed a great interest in giving back to all that have supported him along the way, most importantly his coach Samuel, a former national track champion who he says has been his main inspiration and has given him a plethora of opportunities to realise his potential. Alves has pledged to take the Tobago International Classic later this year and the training programme will see him become even more prepared for the event.

Anne Potter, Accounts Executive, BWIA who was on hand to present the cyclists with their tickets which have been provided by the airline free of charge as part of their continuing support of the sport which has seen them adopt the role of co-sponsor for the last four years, a partnership Potter assures which will endure for a long time to come. Marketing and Communication Executive of Beacon Insurance Attala Maharaj said that her company was proud of their association with the West Indies versus the World Cycling Series and by extension the exchange programme, she wished the cyclists the best of luck as they go into the programme. Michael Phillips of Phillips Promotions speaking from experience told the group to learn as much as possible from the programme further stating that the training will be on another level and will take some adjusting to but expressed faith in their abilities to make it through. He will join the trio on February 24 when they are expected to be in their final week of training.