THE?Barbados Cycling Union (BCU)?has rolled out a strategic plan aimed at restoring the world standing that local cycling once held particularly during the Barry Forde era.
On Friday, long-serving president Keith Yearwood indicated the BCU would be aggressively pursuing assistance from “shareholders” as well as corporate Barbados to reproduce the path which allowed Forde to pedal to excellence.
“With greater financial support we will be able to focus on overseas training and coaching for our potential world beaters and of course we are actively pursuing the acquisition of a modern track,” he said.
Yearwood pointed to cyclists like Javed Mounter, Darren Matthews and Jamol Eastmond as possible flag bearers for Barbados at international events once the training, funding and facilities could be maintained.
“We have initiated discussions with the various ministries as well as the National Sports Council (NSC),?since the velodrome at the Stadium has been obsolete for over 20 years, and we are hopeful that those discussions will bear fruit,” he said.
Turning to the issue of road safety, the president said the BCU was aggressive in getting its riders to maintain caution on the road. However, he added that he was hoping the road safety associations and public education forums would assist in getting the public to recognise that cyclists needed to use the road as they sought to bring international glory to the country.
The BCU also indicated that it would be working more closely with the NSC to fast-track the development of young cyclists as well as female riders since they was a paucity of such competitors. (KB)
