San Carlos, Venezuela

USA's Mike Friers, Cuba's Benito Sobero, President Jose' Manuel Perez, St. Vincent's Trevor Bailey, Venezuela's Artemio Leonett, and Switzerland's Dominique Raymond at the 2004 COPACI Congress in San Carlos, Venezuela.

The BVI Cycling Federation, along with St.Kitts, and Grenada’s UCI status was made official on Saturday June 19th at the UCI/COPACI Congress. The congress also saw the confirmation of St.Vincent’s Trevor “Sailor” Bailey as the new Vice President of COPACI’s Caribbean region.

“Finally!!!” said David A. Thomas of the BVI. “This was a long day coming, but thank god that it is done!” Thomas, along with 6 other delegates from the Caribbean region, attended the meeting in San Carlos, Venezuela over the weekend. The congress had all of the important members of PASO/COPACI in attendance, along with Mrs. Dominique Raymond, UCI’s Caribbean representative. The newly formed Caribbean Cycling Federation was also recognized and applauded for its efforts in making the Caribbean Cycling Championships such a success in such a short period of time. “ We still have a long way to go, but at least they now recognize that we are a force and we will not sit quietly,” Keith Yearwood stated.

BVI Cycling President David Thomas at the COPACI Congress.

“The Latin guys get to race each other all the time and some good caliber races too…. we can do the same and have the same or better caliber riders out of the English speaking Caribbean.” COPACI’s President Mr. Jose’ Manuel Perez also reiterated that COPACI will provide economic aid for the Caribbean Cycling Championships in St. Lucia this coming October.

Mr. Yearwood along with Trevor Bailey, were also elected to sit at the UCI Congress in Verona Italy in September. “This is good for the Caribbean,” new VP Bailey stated. “This is the only way that we will continue to be heard. We can’t stop now.”

UCI's Dominique Raymond

The BVI Flag at the flag of nations for the first time for cycling.

© Copyright 2003 BVI Cycling Federation

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