The Cayman Islands might not be known as an international
cycling destination, but that is all about to change.
When it was announced earlier this year that Team
Garmin-Transitions (owned and operated by Slipstream Sports) would be merging
with Cervelo-SA to form a new super team named Garmin-Cervelo, the squad
started looking for the ideal venue to host a team-building camp.
Due to lots of hard work on the part of local cycling
enthusiast Tom McCallum and some fortuitous timing, the team will be training in
Cayman from the end of November for six days.
Not since the halcyon days of Cayman’s Olympic
participation has there been such excitement in the local cycling community.
The team includes World Champion Thor Hushovd,
Commonwealth Games Gold Medallist David Millar and sprinting sensation Tyler
Farrar. These three top cyclists will be joined by 27 of their colleagues as
well as staff and management of the team, making Cayman the focus of the
cycling world, even if only for a week.
In a rare treat, the team has agreed to two public
interaction events, where local cycling enthusiasts will have the opportunity
to meet and even ride with some of the very best professional cyclists in the
world.
On Thursday 2 December, the Cayman Islands Cycling
Association will host a Ride with the Pros event, sponsored by Walkers. The
ride will start from the Reef Resort at 9am, with cyclists having the unique
opportunity to ride alongside 30 of the world’s top cyclists. The event will
start out at a leisurely pace to allow everyone to ride alongside the pros,
with pace only being lifted toward the latter part of the event for those who
want a taste of the speeds the professionals can cycling at.
The event will conclude with refreshments back at the
Reef Resorts.
There are two options for entry: a full-featured US$100
entry that includes a ride with the pros as well as a limited edition,
autographed cycling jersey, or a US$30 entry that includes only the ride
portion. There will be a limited number of additional jerseys for sale for
US$75, or tech shirts with the same design for US$35.
This will be followed by an Evening with the Pros at
Camana Bay, sponsored by Piedra Wines. The team will be in attendance at an
event featuring food by Abacus, wine by Piedra Wines and beer by Caybrew. It
promises to be an ideal opportunity for any cycling fan keen on mingling with
the pros in a relaxed, casual atmosphere. There will also be a charity auction
featuring unique cycling memorabilia, including three team race bikes donated
by Team Garmin-Transitions, with the proceeds of the auction benefitting the
Cayman Islands Cancer Society.
Tickets to the Evening with the Pros are still available
at CI$100/US$125 per person.
The major sponsors of the Cayman Pro Cycling Camp 2010
are the Ministry and Department of Tourism, Piedra, Walkers and theReef, with
the Cayman Islands Journal serving as the local media partner.
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