President of the St. Lucia Cycling Association, Cyril Mangal (centre), with National Cycling Team.

A number of top cyclists from the region are here to compete in Sunday’s OECS Cycling Championships which is a gruelling 114km road race. St Lucia is hosting the event for the first time since 1987.
Thirty five overseas riders are expected here from Anguilla, Antigua, Grenada, St Kitts and St Vincent & the Grenadines. St Lucia will officially be represented by seven riders, but by race time, expect more local cyclists to compete. The official team consists of Chester Forde, Kurt Maraj, Kirk Maraj, Winston Williams, Sammy Joseph, Eustace Dookie, and Sydney Charles. Ernest Ottley is the Manager/Coach.
The race is expected to start at 9am outside the Bank of St Lucia building at the Water Front. From there cyclists will proceed to the Millennium Highway then to Ravine Poisson. The riders will turn around and head to Pigeon Island then will follow the same route back to Ravine Poisson twice before finishing at the original starting line.
On Wednesday, Team
St Lucia and members of the St Lucia Cycling Association (SLCA) were on hand for a cheque presentation ceremony at the Financial Centre on Bridge Street.
East Caribbean Financial Holding Company Limited (ECFH) showed their
support for this prestigious cycling championship by donating $10,000 to the SLCA.
Speaking at the brief presentation ceremony, ECFH Corporate Communications Assistant Manager, Ayodele Hippolyte, said: “The company supports events like this because regional competition gives our
young athletes exposure
to a higher level of competition. A vital
aspect of ECFH’s corporate social responsibility policy is youth development through sport.”
JQ Motors is also a major sponsor of the OECS Cycling Championships. They were represented at the cheque presentation ceremony by General Manager, Jason Clairmonte.
He said: “Our intention at JQ Motors aligns with the intentions of the SLCA as well as ECFH. We are very interested in the regional aspect of these kinds of events and the development of sports in St Lucia especially as it relates to the region.”
Over the past few years, cycling has experienced its ups and downs. Looking back at this competition, it’s been feast and famine for the SLCA. St Lucian Jean Louis first won the OECS title in 1987. Two years later his brother Daniel won the championship and then in 1991 Sylvester James
of Mon Repos brought
home another title. Since then, we have not had an OECS road racing champion, however, Winston “Stony” Williams did place third last year.
President of the SLCA, Cyril Mangal, also addressed the gathering and noted this was the first time in over a decade that St Lucia would be hosting the OECS Cycling Championships. He mentioned that this event would give competing cyclists, the chance to earn points towards participating in world class cycling events such as the Olympics.
While introducing Team St Lucia, Mangal said riders have done a lot of work and training in preparation for the competition. He assured everyone they stood an excellent chance of winning Sunday’s Championship.
“At least four or five the riders on the national team are capable of winning this race,” said Mangal. “It all comes down to tactics and I think we are very capable of not only winning but making a clean sweep.”
The SLCA is proud in its effort to have on board gold sponsor ECFH, JQ Motors, Government of St Lucia along with silver sponsors LUCELEC, Super J, Bryden & Partners and bronze sponsors St Lucia Olympic Committee and Visual Domain.
The association extends an invitation to all sports loving St Lucian’s, especially cycling fans to turn out in large numbers to cheer on the cyclists.