The first ever national mountain bike team departed Trinidad yesterday to compete in the Caribbean Mountain Bike Championship in Puerto Rico, on Sunday.
The T&T team comprises Jason Costelloe (elite men), Ryan Chin (elite men), Candace Chin Fatt (elite women), Peter Sellier (junior men), manager Brian Sellier (Peter’s father) and coach Drew Edsall.
Being T&T’s first ever national mountain bike (MTB) team, it bodes well for the development of the MTB discipline under the T&T Cycling Federation (TTCF) umbrella. The Caribbean Mountain Bike Championship will have teams from Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Curacao, Dominican Republic, Guadeloupe, Haiti, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands and T&T. The event type is known as ‘XCO’ (Cross Country Olympic) and the course will be four-six km with multiple laps. The elite race will take approximately one hour 45 minutes and the juniors will be one hour 30 minutes. The team’s first priority will be to re-assemble and check their bikes, then learn the course over the next couple of days.
The coach will ride with the team during the training and preparation time and will work with them to assess the best lines and approaches to any obstacles, as well as conducting some start drills. Edsall will ensure that each athlete is physically and mentally prepared to achieve their personal best for T&T.
The team is grateful for the financial assistance provided by the Sport Company of T&T. The team also thanked the TTCF for making this team possible and all those who have contributed to the individuals development and success through their support, encouragement and assistance.