A contingent of 19 riders from the Cayman cycling community joined a massive field of more than 5,000 riders to conquer the 2026 Gran Fondo Océano a Océano Panamá.
The event, hosted on 19 April, saw cyclists face a demanding 125 kilometres route which tested their endurance through tropical rainforests as they travelled from the Atlantic side of Colón to the Pacific edge of Panama City, crossing three iconic landmarks: the Atlantic Bridge, Centennial Bridge and the Bridge of the Americas.
In addition to navigating the Panama Canal Zone and approximately 3,600 feet of total elevation gain, the riders faced extreme weather conditions with temperatures rising beyond 90°F throughout the duration of the race.
Top finishers for Cayman
Crossing the line first for the Cayman squad was David Grosshans with a time of 4:14:36.
“Representing the Cayman squad in Panama was a great experience, especially with riders there from over 52 countries,” Grosshans said.
For Grosshans, navigating the route was one that “required a lot of focus because the intense heat really tested everyone’s endurance”.
“My background in long-distance cycling definitely helped me prepare, and I relied heavily on my established hydration and fueling strategies to keep going,” he said.
Despite the intense conditions, Grosshans said, “Crossing the finish line first for our team was a rewarding moment that made all the training worth it. It was a tough but memorable event, and I fully intend to come back and race it again.”
Grosshans was followed closely by Norman Josephs, who took the second position for Cayman after finishing in 4:14:50. Wayne Kirkconnell completed the top three local finishers, recording a time of 4:33:50.
Also featured in the ride were world-renowned professional riders such as Chris Froome and Alejandro Valverde.
Youngest cyclist reflects
The youngest cyclist among the Cayman pack, Aaron Roye, 25, shared his experience after competing in this event for the first time.
Roye said, “It was amazing. This year was great as we had 19 people based in Cayman taking on the challenge, which is our largest group trip to date.
“A few of the Cayman crew had to manage cramps and managed to finish top 100 which is very impressive. I more so took my time to enjoy the route instead of treating it as a race. I think next time I’d consider trying to go as fast as I can safely.”
Reflecting on the event’s location, Roye said, “Panama has an amazing cycling culture in the city and drivers in my opinion respect the cyclists. They close certain roads off in the mornings to allow people to exercise freely along the causeways.”
Additionally, Cayman Cycling was well-represented within the massive pack, with president Wayne Kirkconnell and board members Daniel Cummings and Phillip Campbell among those competing.
Other members of the Cayman delegation who successfully completed the ride included Andres McDermott, Andrew Ebanks, Jason Bush, John Thompson, Kerry Glanfield, Kevin Connolly, Mario Sanchez, Marlon Hoyte, Mitchell Smith, Risa Golberg, Sacha Tibbetts, Wade Tamasa and David Hill.
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