Teenaged cyclist Paul heads to Switzerland for training camp

Paul, 17, was one of the standout cyclists at the Junior Pan American Track Cycling Championships which was held at the newly opened National Cycling Centre in Couva from August 27-31. Paul, who leaves Trinidad today, won gold in the men’s sprint and got silver medals in the men’s keirin and men’s team sprint.

The young cyclist was invited by the WCC after his performances at the UCI Junior World Championships at the same venue in July.

The Trinidad and Tobago Cycling Federation website explained Paul’s journey. Ten months ago, Paul was plying his trade as an endurance cyclist and represented TT at the Junior Caribbean Road Cycling Championships and Junior Pan Am Championships in 2015.

Under the stewardship of coach Anthony Sellier and the support of his club Breakaway CC, the man now known as “Fireman” started a new journey as a sprint cyclist.

Paul introduced his intentions early in the 2016 cycling season at the Arima Velodrome where he consistently recorded quick flying 200-metre times. However, it was at the National Track Championships in May, when he broke the junior flying 200m record for the Arima Velodrome in a time of 11.173 seconds.

He later went on to capture three golds at the Championship, automatically qualifying him for the Junior World Championships.

Facing off in his first major international competition as a sprint cyclist, Paul held his own to finish 12th in the men’s sprint. The Junior Worlds laid the platform for him to launch into the Junior Pan Ams with a home crowd advantage.

The WCC recognised Paul’s talent and subsequently invited him to a two-month high intensity training camp at their headquarters, to which both Paul and the TT Cycling Federation (TT CF) were happy to accept.

With 7,534 kilometres separating Paul from his hometown of Gasparillo in south Trinidad, Aigle will host one of TT ’s brightest upand- coming stars for two months.

The TT CF wishes Paul safe travels and hopes that he continues what he does best; continuing to be the “Fireman!”