By Emmerson Campbell
Local cyclists Paul DeNobrega and Michael Anthony were yesterday commended by Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Dr Frank Anthony during a courtesy call on the minister at his Main Street Office yesterday by the cyclists.
De Nobrega and Anthony competing in the Dominican Republic at the Junior Caribbean Cycling Championships both stormed to victory to give Guyana a gold medal sweep in the junior and juvenile categories.
DeNobrega took the top honours in the 80km event by conquering about 100 riders from 18 other countries in a record time of two hours, four minutes and a second.
Lindener, Anthony, copped the gold medal in the 50km race also in record time of one hour, 26 minutes and 55 seconds almost three minutes ahead of second place finisher Pedro Nunez of Puerto Rico.
Junior star rider and reigning junior Road Race champion, Raynauth Jeffrey, copped a bronze medal in the 80km event after he was involved in a spill. Anthony’s teammate Raul Leal finished second and should have been the silver medal winner but was controversially relegated to fourth.
This scenario is currently being ironed out by the officials of the Guyana Cycling Federation (GCF) and Officials of the event.
During yesterday’s courtesy call, Dr. Anthony commended the four cyclists for their outstanding performances and encouraged them to continue to make Guyana proud.
Dr. Anthony extended congratulatory remarks to the cyclists and attributed the success to the strong cycling programme on the local shores.
The minister also thanked Ian Davis aka QB (owner of Miami-based riding team Coco’s) for financing the trip of the riders.
Dr. Anthony added that the four riders will be part of a junior team that will debut in this year’s sixth annual five-stage road race which will pedal off next month.
“These riders will form part of our junior team, it’s not the individual it’s the junior team and I want to see you challenging Coco’s in a serious way. The reason why Team Coco’s has been beating us is because of their team work. They have taught us that it works and we will be working towards that in this year’s five-stage event,” said Dr. Anthony.
He continued:“Once you incorporate team techniques I think you will do really well. This team dominated at the Caribbean Championships and I am very confident it can create some upsets in the five-stage race. Once again congratulations to you, you have done us proud.”
President of the GCF, Cheryl Thompson, who gave an overview of the cyclists, congratulated the four-man team and mentioned that she would like to see one if not all of them competing in the 2016 Olympic Games in neighbouring Brazil.
Linden’s Anthony was not present at yesterday’s courtesy call because of transportation issues.
Wayne DeAbreau acted as the riders coach and manager while in the Dominican Republic.
