The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

AFTER a year of inactivity because of the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, the New Providence Cycling Association is finally back in full gear.

The association, headed by Barron ‘Turbo’ Musgrove, hosted its second event for the year on Sunday with Hill Climbing Time Trials, also known as the “King of the Hills.”

Veteran John Cox, one of the elite cyclists, who returned to competition after a brief hiatus, topped the field by winning the adult 1/4 mile lap races for a combined time of 1 minute, 12.65 seconds.

Two rising stars followed as Jay Major was second in 1:21.17 and Felix Neely came in third in 1:23.54.

Divisional winners included:

Open women - Kami Roach, 1min.50sec.97; Sanchia Fitemaurice, 1min.58sec.46; Suzy Eneas, 2min.04sec.68.

Junior boys 15-21 years - Barron Musgrove Jr., 1.min. 41sec.21 and Jason Cates, 1min.46sec.03.

Junior boys 12-14 years - Enea Gervasini, 1min.53sec.32 and Leviticus Levarity, 4mins.06sec.77.

Junior boys under 12 - Sibby Potter, 2mins.00.54; Mirko Gervasini, 2mins.36sec.56; Kendrick Cargill, 2mins.55sec.50.

Junior girls under-12 years - Taylor Knowles, 2min.59sec.18.

Cadets boys under 9 years - Anthony Knowles, 4min.20sec.90.

Musgrove, a former national champion, said since their return to competition, this has been the most competitors they have had competing in a long time.

“We have a resurgence of young kids and the triathlon association are competing and their kids are competing to help in their training with no competition being held yet for them,” Musgrove said.

“With triathlon consisting of swimming, cycling and running, this is a good opportunity for their competitors to get in some fitness by competing in our cycling events.”

Musgrove said they are really appreciative of the Competent Authority and the Ministry of Health for granting the NPCA to stage their cycling events under the strict COVID-19 protocols.

“Everybody seemed to be bonding together, talking with each other more and there are a lot of people exercising on their bikes and they are coming out and participating in our events,” he said.

“We have seen an increase in people riding their bikes and competing in our races, so that is exciting for us. We have about 15-20 young kids all under the age of 15 competing. We have the parents coming out and participating.”

Musgrove expressed his gratitude to the Sea Waves Triathlon Club and the Mighty Flamingoes Triathlon Club who are both entering their competitors in the events.

Cox, according to Musgrove, is back after being on the sidelines for at least 3-4 years, competing with Lorenzo Carter and Felix Neely and Jay Major - all competing to make it more competitive.

“We’re trying to put on races that will allow more cyclists to compete, rather than doing the 80 and 90 mile races,” he said.

“So we want to keep the races short and durable because we have a lot of people who just want to do it as a challenge.”

Musgrove said the Bahamas Cycling Federation, headed by Roy Colebrooke, is planning to assist Grand Bahama and Eleuthera in getting their programmes up and running again.

“COVID-19, as you know, has really crippled sports and particularly cycling, so we’re just happy to have some type of cycling competition,” he stated.

The next race series will be on Sunday, April 25, which will be their time trials, held in the Clifton Pier area at their home base competition site at the Clifton Heritage Park.

“We realise that we can’t leave out the youngsters. We have to make them feel part of what we are doing,” Musgrove said. “So we want them to get in the limelight just as we do with the females.

“We are trying to space out the race before we go back to our BMX and Mountain Bike racing in May. We want to try and generate more interest in that because we will soon have to find somewhere to compete because the roads are becoming too congested with traffic.”

Alternate sites that will be considered are Fort Charlotte and the RM Bailey Park as they traverse from the road to the dirt bike riding.