In the start house for the TT run.

MELBOURNE, Australia - British Virgin Islands cycling made its debut Tuesday in the Commonwealth Games, and Neil Thomas posted a time of 1 hour, 3 minutes and 33.9 seconds on the 40kilometer (24-mile course), thus establishing a National Cycling record.

Thomas placed 56 among 69 starters. He said the race was difficult but enjoyable.

"The weather made it really difficult, especially on the way out," he said. "There was a strong headwind and crosswind, and the course was a bit longer than they said it was. It was different from what we practiced on."

He said the course was lined by hundreds of thousands of people and that made the experience even more overwhelming. "I had unbelievable experience doing that course," he said. "There were people from end to end just cheering you on and clapping."

Thomas said that if the race had been held later in the year he would have done better.

In any case, he said the race was a learning experience.

"I've learned a lot here competing on a higher level with greater athletes - people who just cycle for a living," the BVI police officer said. "The way that the Australians take their sports seriously, I have that experience, which will last for a long time."

Thomas said he will use what he learned to help him prepare for future competitions.

BVI Cycling Federation Vice President David Thomas, Neil's brother and coach, said Neil was trying to break the hour barrier "but the conditions were a lot harder than what we had trained for."

Neil about to cross the line for the National Record.

"We had a plan and a goal comming into these games. And even though we fell short of the goal, i'm still happy with the result. If you have never competed at this level before, it's hard to compose yourself when you actually get on the start line. For his first games, the normal nerves happened, but he was still able to pull it together for the return run home," Thomas stated. "When i looked at the results and saw where his time was in comparason to the other Caribbean cyclists in the field, i was very encouraged. The guys that normally beat him by 5 and 6 mins, only beat him by 30 secs to 1min 30secs. We can work with that!"

With the National record now established, the plan is to work hard to get better for the up comming CAC Games in July, and the Caribbean Cycling Championships in October.

"We could only get better from here in. We have to look to the future and see where we can improve on the results from the Commomwealth Games. The powers that be have to realize that we have the talent but it will take a greater commitment from them if we are to take our athletes to the next level."

50,000 plus cheering spectators!!!

At the turn around.

© Copyright 2003 BVI Cycling Federation

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