Ajani Cutting’s preparations for an expected appearance at the Caribbean Elite and Under-23 Championships have suffered a setback after a high-speed crash destroyed his bicycle during Sunday’s Victor Macedo Memorial road race.
The national Under-23 road race champion escaped serious injury, but his bicycle was damaged beyond repair, leaving his club, Kaieteur Attack Racing Cycle Club (KARCC), seeking help to purchase a replacement.
KARCC has identified a bicycle in Trinidad and Tobago costing US$3,000 and is appealing to individuals and businesses to contribute. Cutting is expected to be included in the Guyana team travelling to the championships in the Dominican Republic.
The accident occurred in the Belladrum area on the West Coast of Berbice on September 20. Cutting said his injuries were not serious and that he remained determined to push on.
For the young cyclist, the loss of his bicycle interrupts a season in which he has made a successful transition from junior competition to the senior ranks.
Cutting captured the Independence Three-Stage Road Race overall title in May. He finished 12 seconds ahead of Alexander Leung after three stages, recording a combined time of 6:58:46.88.
He added the national Under-23 road race crown in June, continuing the progress that had brought him an Open-category victory at the Beacon Café Paceline Road Race earlier in the year.
Cutting has also gained experience beyond Guyana. In April, he joined fellow Guyanese riders Sidwell Sandy and Alexander Leung at the UCI World Cycling Centre’s Continental Development Satellite in Couva, Trinidad and Tobago, for a programme aimed at improving technical skills and developing high-performance track cyclists.
His immediate need is a replacement bicycle as he looks towards the next stage of his season.
Anyone wishing to support the appeal can contact KARCC’s Mark St. Claire on +592 666 2500.
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