Local cycling peddling on

Local cycling was given a booster shot with the staging of a ten-day Olympic Solidarity training course which ended last week Wednesday, August 29.{{more}}

The course, conducted by Frenchman Gerald Pegon, involved both theoretical and practical sessions, and saw eighteen persons make use of his expertise.

At the conclusion of the course, Pegon expressed to SEARCHLIGHT his delight with the interest shown by the participants.

On his third trip to St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Pegon, a former cyclist, was happy that the local cycling union was able to arrange a race which fell smack into the scheme of his operations.

Speaking to SEARCHLIGHT at the closing ceremony, held at Murray Heights, Pegon, struggling with his English, said the race helped to see the cyclists in action and gave him an insight into the highs and flaws of their technique.

Pegon, though, was worried with the lack of participation of females in the course, with only one person coming forward to receive the knowledge.

He, however, admitted “it is a problem all round”.

And the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Cycling Union is hoping that its efforts to get cycling into the schools will continue to bear fruit.

The Union recently introduced the sport to the students of the Girls’ High School, which they think could see a springing up of female participation.

With the course out of the way and the new knowledge firmly entrenched, some local cyclists, many of whom were part of the course head off to Tobago soon to ride in a major event there.

Following the Tobago sojourn, the eyes of the local cyclists focus on the French territory of Martinique, which will stage an Elite Championship in October.

In the interim, the cyclists will be kept in check by their involvement in several local keep fit and warm up races.(RT)