According to the president of the Guyana Cycling Federation (GCF), Cheryl Thompson, all the scheduled meets on their calendar pedaled off, the standard of racing improved and the incentives for the wheelsmen were more lucrative.
“The funding we received from the GOA and other sponsors was also great,” Thompson told Stabroek Sport during a sit down recently.
Three new clubs making applications to be affiliates to the federation was another bright spot for the sport which saw a record 40 events being staged.
“The events we planned for our programme during 2013 were all successfully staged and besides that we had three new clubs, Trojan, United and Team Coco’s making applications,” Thompson noted.
“2013 was also the first year a cyclist rode a one-day event and received more than $200,000 and they were three of them,” Thompson pointed out. “The Kadir Mohamed Ounce of Gold Race ($240,000), the Digicel Breast Cancer Race ($250,000) and the United Bike Shop race ($240,000).
“Those races brought out the best in the cyclists because everybody wanted to win. It made them work harder and they were more competitive. I would like to see that continue, reward the cyclist for their hard work,” added Thompson.
The GCF head however, opined the highlight of the season was seeing how the national cyclist competed as a team and performing creditably on their international duties.
“For me, the highlight of the season was the way the riders rode as a team in Suriname at the Bigi Bergi and the Caribbean Cycling Championships in Curacao; they are now coming to grips on the benefits of team work.
“We have been able to identify a national coach (Dwayne Gibbs) and we are seeing the improved results.”
Asked about the early Christmas and New Year’s monetary gift that the GCF received from the GOA, Thompson said: “We have not decided on how to spend on the funds, its for the entire executive to decide it will be used development of the juniors but a specific plan is not hatched yet, that will happen in the first Tuesday in January at our meeting.”
Looking ahead to 2014, Thompson stated that the GCF will be aiming to hold “more fund raisers so that we can at least be more comfortable as a federation.
“We are also hoping to have more club events so that we can have more competitions because more competitions will help in the development of our riders.”
The GCF head noted that the funding and sponsorship of the discipline “was a great this year” and thanked the GOA, the Ministry of Sport, Digicel and other corporate sponsors.
Thompson also encouraged cyclists to emulate their achievements in the season ahead.