The Guyana Cycling Federation has settled on its five riders for this week’s Caribbean Elite and Under-23 Road Cycling Championships in the Dominican Republic, with Andre Greene earning a late call-up following an injury to Alexis Mendes.
Briton John, Ajani Cutting, Aaron Newton, Segun Hubbard and Greene will represent Guyana at the October 9-12 championships after the federation was forced to trim its initial nine-man selection because of Caribbean Cycling Union regulations.
Mendes had been among the five cyclists selected by the GCF council following its review of the team, but an injury suffered at the Tour de Bim in Barbados over the weekend ruled him out. Greene, who rides for Kaieteur Attack Racing Cycle Club, has been drafted in as his replacement.
The changes bring an end to a selection process that began with five Elite riders and four Under-23 cyclists being identified for the regional championships.
Guyana’s original Elite group included national road race champion John, Mendes, Greene, Hubbard and Devendra Sahadeo. National Under-23 champion Cutting was selected alongside Newton, Sidwell Sandy and Mark Lewis in the younger category.
The federation had hoped to send more of those cyclists by making use of the country’s full 10-rider allocation. However, with no female cyclists selected, the GCF sought to use the vacant places to accommodate additional men.
That proposal was rejected by the Caribbean Cycling Union, which advised the GCF that the allocation consisted of five male and five female positions and that the female places could not be transferred to male competitors.
The ruling left the federation with five spots for its Elite and Under-23 men and prompted the GCF council to choose John, Cutting, Newton, Hubbard and Mendes. Mendes’ subsequent injury opened the door for Greene to return to the travelling unit.
GCF President Nigel London will serve as team manager during the championships and is also scheduled to attend the Caribbean Cycling Union meeting in his capacity as federation president.
The team has also received support from the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, which has assisted with funding for the trip.
Additionally, the Ministry has approved bicycles for John and Sandy and has committed to supplying two more bicycles over the next year.
Guyana will now turn its attention to competition in the Dominican Republic, with the championships scheduled to run from October 9 to 12.
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