Potential for growth, potential for medals. A cycling camp began yesterday in Balmain, Couva that organisers see as an attempt to grow the potential track and road talents existing in the Caribbean.
The COPACI Track and Road Cycling Development Camp (June 29-July 11) has brought together young cyclists and some coaches from across the Caribbean for a programme that combines elite coaching, sports science, and competitive training.
The camp, being held by Panam Sports and the Cycling Confederation of Pan America (COPACI), is being supervised by Steve McEwen, development manager for the UCI Satellite Centre, while the training course will be led by Julian Nunez Corredor, one of UCI’s 15 coach experts.
And McEwen, here four weeks, has identified potential for growth.
“I’ve seen already that there is a lot of potential here,” he told the Express. “There are a lot of athletes, a lot of coaches with a very, very, very good mindset. It’s now about taking that mindset further forward and developing it for the athletes to become stronger individuals, better people, fantastic athletes.
In addressing the group of riders and coaches from Belize, Guyana, St Lucia, Dominica, Jamaica, Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago at the start of the camp at the National Cycling Velodrome, T&T Olympic Committee president Diane Lewis said the Pan American authorities desired more Caribbean cyclists at their track events.
“What Panam sports wants to see is the representation of Caribbean countries on the track at the Pan Am Games,” she told her audience. “They want to see the track development… All the national Olympic Committees of the Caribbean as well as the cycling federations are trying to work together for these opportunities.”
While the focus of the camp will be on elements related to cycling performance, coach expert Nunez Corredor stressed that a citizen must be developed, not just an athlete.
“Coaches,” he said, “we have a huge responsibility on our shoulders to bring these kids, make their dreams come true, but also to help the society.”
McEwen said the camp at the UCI-designated Satellite Centre, presented, “a wonderful opportunity for Trinidad and Tobago but also the whole of the Caribbean.”
However, he cautioned that, “the velodrome seems to be predominantly sprint-based. But for me, there are opportunities from both sides – sprint and endurance. For me the velodrome is first and foremost because the medal opportunities on the track are far more significant than on the road. There are more medal opportunities full-stop. Why wouldn’t you want to take advantage of that?”
He emphasised: “When you’ve got such a wonderful velodrome, utilise it in the best, most optimal way. Are there opportunities? – 100%. Can they be realised? – 100%, and now it’s just the guidance in the right direction to achieve that. And it isn’t overnight; there’s no Harry Potter magic wand; it’s called step-by-step development.”