BVI Cycling Federation accepted as full ICU member

By DEAN GREENAWAY

A little more than a week before Sunday's Cable and Wireless Challenge-the first of the three biggest races of its 10th anniversary season-the BVI Cycling Federation got the news it had been anticipating for the last three years-being accepted as a member of the International Cycling Union, its governing body.

BVICF president David Thomas made the announcement on last Thursday's Sports Beat Magazine, eight months after his federation was accredited to the British Cycling Federation.

"We now have our independent status," Thomas told the listening audience. "We are now independent of Britain and it means we can attend events and will be attending events as the British Virgin Islands and not as a part of Britain. We can attend regional and international events including the Pan Am Games and World Championships once we qualify on our own. This is really great for us."

Former president Jim Cullimore who headed the Federation for the first seven years of its existence, also called it 'great news.' "It is something that I had always envisaged that the Cycling Federation would get to," Cullimore said, recalling that cycling got its start in 1993, when former Sports Officer Ciff Williams organized a race from Road Town to West End and return that attracted five people. What was then the BVI Bike Club, became the BVI Cycling Association before being renamed the BVI Cycling Federation.

"The only way we are going to get better and get recognized is by doing the international events and not just locally international events, but, the regional international events and even on to the world stage, including the Commonwealth Games. It broadens our outlook and gives experience to our up and coming riders. We only have one way to go and that's up."

Thomas said the BVICF will be re-launching its website today as well. The address is www.bvicycling.com.

Sunday's race Thomas says, starts at 7 a.m. from the old Festival Village site. The race will take cyclists on a two lap loop to West End, with a turnaround at the Port Purcell Roundabout. A women's race and Fun/Novice course will also be offered. Registration convenes at 6:15 a.m. and costs $20. Prizes will be awarded following the race. Cyclists are expected from Puerto Rico, Antigua and the U. S. Virgin Islands.