The spanking new National Cycledrome in Couva could have its first taste of action in May next year when the T&T Cycling Federation (TTCF) hosts the Caribbean Cycling Championship for the first time.
The facility has been completed and is ready for action but must first be handed over to the Government by the contractor, which it is understood, will be done soon. The T&T Guardian has been told that the delay stems from the non-completion of the other sporting facilities such as the Acquatic Centre and the Tennis facility at Tacarigua. It is understood that one contractor is doing the three facilities and therefore there is to be one handing-over ceremony.
The regional cycling championship which will be held specifically for track cycling will be one of the biggest cycling events to be held on local shores says president of the TTCF Robert Farrier.
Twelve countries from the region are expected to be here to determine the best track cyclists in the Caribbean. Farrier said the event would be used as a preparation stage for a number of local, regional and international cyclists ahead of the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil next year.
“By February we will know who are the cyclists that would have qualified for the Olympics. With just a couple months ahead of the Olympics they may not want to risk injuries at tough meets and therefore the regional championship would be the ideal stage for them to warm up,” Farrier explained. He added that cyclists who did not make the qualifying times to book a spot at the Games would also want to prove themselves, particularly those locally and regionally.
The cycling federation has already set sights on a number of areas to ensure the successful staging of the event, including attempts to cover a budget of $700,000 to $800,000.
Farrier noted that they have already started talks with corporate T&T and hopes that the Ministry of Sport along with the Sport Company of T&T would come on board. “As it is the first time we will be hosting the regional championship, we want to make sure that we make a name for ourselves in T&T, in the region and internationally.
However the only set back is that the facility may not be UCI-certified as yet, which means that if records are broken at the meet, they will not be recognised by the world governing body.
Farrier said his federation is the only body to get the championship certified and promised that as soon as the cycledrome is handed, the TTCF will write the UCI to have their officials come here and get the facility certified.
If the facility is not ready, the event will be shifted to Irwin Park in Siparia. Farrier said contractors have explained to him that completion date for this facility will be next month, in spite of the fact that there is still a lot of work to be done.
“I will be visiting the facility again next week to see about the readiness for the regional championship. When I was there recently workmen were putting down a second layer on the tracks. After this is done they will have a final layer for it to be finished,” Farrier explained. He said this venue or the cycledrome will be used to host the National Junior and Senior Championship sometime after the Easter Grand Prix in April.
He said however that the venue for the Easter Grand Prix will remain the Arima Velodrome as it has been traditionally been held there.
WALTER ALIBEY