THE Jamaica Cycling Federation (JCF) is hoping the sport will take a turn for the better when first vice-president, Olympian Iona Wynter-Parks, pursues efforts to restructure, develop young talents and fine-tuning top riders.

An Olympic triathlete and professional cyclist now retired from competition, Wynter-Parks had been assisting with equipment supplies from the US and when in Jamaica, “honed up-and-coming riders”.

As first vice-president in the new administration of attorney-at-law Christian Tavares-Finson, Wynter- Parks said she would “take it a step further” in an official capacity.

Wynter-Parks, who competed in the triathlon at the 2000 Olympics Games in Sydney, Australia, said in the short term the Federation would look at “supporting as best we can the existing elite riders that we have representing the country”.

For the long term, “We are restructuring and looking at setting up our youth, junior and Under-23 riders for the future in terms of training structure, equipment, competition, pathways to development and exposure.

“We also have an interest in bringing back competitions that are spectator-friendly, for general public interest as well as racer development, and if possible encouraging a more bicycle-friendly or recreational-riding environment,” she added.

Wynter-Parks, who also competed in the CAC Games, Pan Am Games and Commonwealth Games, described cycling in Jamaica as “in need of serious attention… that has a plan rather than hoping we get lucky that some talented individual will come along”.

The 42-year-old argued that with proper planning and support in terms of expertise and resources, Jamaica would be able to produce another Olympic cycling medallist, after David Weller, who earned bronze in the 1,000m time trial at the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow.

She said while it was “not realistic for the coming Olympics”, “we have the athletic talent, and especially suited to track cycling events and BMX”.

The JCF has put a lot of faith in Wynter-Parks to pump new life into local cycling.

Born in London, England to a Jamaican father and German mother in November 1968, Wynter moved to Jamaica at age two. She attended Mona Prep, Campion College, UWI (Mona) in Jamaica, and Dalhousie University and Universite Laval in Canada, and Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia.

She competed in the World Cup and World Championships in triathlon, and road and track cycling for years. She also rode in the Giro d’Italia, the women’s equivalent of the men’s Tour de France.

She finished 34th overall in the triathlon at the 2000 Olympic Games.