Cayman’s top cyclists will take to
the roads on Sunday to defend Cayman’s honour in the Reefathlon time trial. However,
they will have a tough time if they hope to see off the challenge of the defending
champion, professional cyclist Peter Stetina.
He blew the old course record for
the 19-mile circuit clean out of the water in 2009 when he set a new record of
38:33. That is equal to an average speed of just under 30 miles per hour.
As a two-time under-23 US National
Time Trial Champion, Stetina certainly knows how to race against the clock. He
spent the 2010 season racing for the Garmin-Transitions team in prestigious
races across Europe, as well as in the US and Canada.
Stetina, who has been a regular
visitor to these shores, is very excited about returning to race in the
Reefathlon.
“I’ve had these dates starred on my
calendar since last November. The Reef was so hospitable last year, and I
really enjoyed some fun in the sun coupled with racing the gorgeously beautiful
East End loop full gas,” said Stetina.
Even though he is again likely to
be head and shoulders above the rest of the field, he is treating Cayman’s
local cyclists with due respect.
“I will have only been on the bike
one week after taking my offseason break before the race, and the Cayman
peloton are more serious and competitive than ever before. So I’m a little
nervous. If the wind plays its part, though, a new course record is attainable,”
he said.
Later this month, Stetina will be
joined by the rest of his team as they conduct their first training camp of the
2011 season in Cayman. For more information on riding or dining with the
members of the Garmin-Cervelo pro team, visit caymancycling.com.
At last year’s event, local time trial
ace Jerome Ameline set a local course record, which has since been toppled by
Michele Smith in the final event of the Cayman Classic Cycling Series.
However, Ameline is currently out
of action with a knee injury, while Smith has already ended his season and is a
doubtful starter on Sunday.
This means that the defence of
local honour will rest squarely on the shoulders of recent 10-mile time trial
winner Steve Abbott. However, he does not have a great relationship with the
Reefathlon course, holding only the 11th fastest time. Even though he should be
able to improve considerably on that, he will have to overcome a stiff
challenge from the local triathlon contingent, who have all been training for
the Cayman Islands Triathlon, which is set to take place on 28 November. Johan
Heath, who finished third in the recent 10-mile time trial, as well as Ray
Welds, who finished fourth, could make an appearance on the middle step of the
podium as well. However, barring illness, injury or accident, it seems unlikely
that any of the local contingent will be able to tame Stetina.
In the women’s race, it is likely
to be a battle for supremacy between the top local triathletes, with the likes
of Caroline Cahill, Pam Travers and Justine Plenkiewicz contesting the podium. Travers
will certainly be hoping for better luck than she had in the 10-mile time
trial, when she suffered a puncture.
There is little doubt that the most
exciting battle of the event will take place in the junior division. Michael
Testori and Toby Sutton have been close all season long, trading places on the
top step of the podium all the time. Testori won the last time trial on the Reefathlon
circuit, but Sutton pipped him by a single second to take the win in the
10-mile time trial.
The Reefathlon time trial will take
place on Sunday 21 November, with the start scheduled for 7am from the Reef
Resort in East End.
The entry fee is $15 for pre-entry
or $20 for entries on race morning, and includes a Reefathlon T-shirt, post
race refreshments, as well as a donation to the Cayman Islands Cancer Society.
To enter or for more information on
the event, as well as on the Staycation specials that go with it, visit
reefathlon.com.
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