The Elite Caribbean Cycling Championships are this weekend in Barbados and the Bermuda team will be heading out Thursday morning.
Leading the squad will be Geri Mewett, former Commonwealth Games cyclist and semi pro rider based in the US. Joining Mewett on the men’s squad will be Garth Thomson, Arthur Pitcher, Chris Faria and Mark Hatherley. Thomson will be looking to put in another strong performance in the time trial, the event in which he won the bronze medal in 2008. For Pitcher, Faria and Hatherley this will be their first time participating in the regional championships though Hatherley was a member of the very successful team at the 2007 Island Games in Rhodes.
On the women’s squad will be Deanna Thomson, the defending time trial champion and silver medalist in the road race from last year’s competition in St. Vincent. Flora Duffy has also joined the team after a year of racing for her collegiate cycling team at University of Colorado – Boulder. Better known for her triathlon achievements, Duffy’s rapid progress in cycling disciplines suggests that she too should have some success in Barbados.
The selectors have also named Nicole Mitchell as an alternate to the women’s squad in the event that Thomson or Duffy is unable to participate. Mitchell has made significant progress in the last several months and has demonstrated that she has the potential to rise to the level of the Elite CCC competition.
