SVG to host Caribbean Cycling Championships

Another major regional sporting event is coming to St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

This country will host the 2008 Caribbean Cycling Championships, 26th and 27th October.{{more}}

The event will take the form of a Time Trial on the 26th and the 75-mile Road Race on Independence Day, the 27th.

The big event, the Road Race, will take place using the route between the Rabacca Bridge and San Souci, on the windward side of the island, starting from 8 in the morning.

This route was chosen because the areas closer to capital city, Kingstown, have been deemed too dangerous, as there are too many feeder roads coming onto the main highway, and the presence of too many bends.

But, this country, which hosted the championships in 2003, had to step in after original host, Trinidad and Tobago, was tardy in its preparations,while the Dominican Republic and Cuba indicated that they were unable to do so, as well.

Each of the participating countries is allowed to have a maximum of ten cyclists, five males, two females and three officials.

Close to 100 cyclists from the Caribbean will peddle their way to glory in the two day event, which will be used as a qualifier for the Pan Am Games.

Eleven countries have indicated in the affirmative, but the numbers are expected to soar to about twenty, granted it is also a qualifier.

Apart from the competitors, the President of the International Cycling Union and the President of the Pan American Cycling Federation are expected to be part of the official representation.

Already set up is a host of persons drawn from a wide cross section of the Vincentian community, planning the event, which should cost approximately EC$130,000.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines, through the SVG Cycling Union, successfully hosted the OECS Cycling Championships in 2006.(RT)