Unity is about to happen in the Cayman Islands.
We’re playing host this week to almost 30 of the world’s top cyclists, including the reigning world champ.
To them, we say, welcome.
Many of the riders who find themselves on our shores this week have been fierce competitors in the past.
Now it is time for them to work together to become teammates – part of the Garmin-Cervelo team.
The riders will be bonding.
And what better place to bond than the Cayman Islands?
While the cyclists are training and getting to know each other, the Cayman Islands will be getting a tremendous amount of exposure.
Cycling is a high profile sport and the terrain of Grand Cayman makes it an excellent place to train.
The cyclists and their entourage are coming from all across the globe. If they have a good experience here they will go home and tell others of their time here, possibly enticing others to spend their holidays in the Cayman Islands.
The Observer on Sunday is certain that by the time the team leaves Cayman it will have had a good experience here, proving that sport tourism is something that our government should pursue.
The demographics of cyclers make them the perfect draw for the Cayman Islands.
The median age of cyclists is 38 with 85 per cent of them between the ages of 25 and 54. Medial household income is more than US$80,000 and 90 per cent of them are college educated.
It is our hope that while the cyclists are here, they will reach out to youngsters in our midst and show them that cycling is an attainable sport.
There are many people living in the Cayman Islands who already participate in cycling and the visit by the team only verifies the sport.
But more needs to be done in the Cayman Islands to make cycling a safe sport for all involved.
While some of the newer roads have cycling lanes, government should ensure that all roads are made safer for all those who ride bicycles, whether for sport or for transportation.
And those who drive vehicles should be more aware of cyclists on the roadways, giving them proper courtesy.
To team Garmin-Cervelo and its entourage, we say welcome to Grand Cayman and the Cayman Islands.
Related Videos
