THE Jamaica Cycling Federation (JCF), in an effort to bring back the sport to its days of glory, will be staging a two-day National Cycling Championships on Saturday and Sunday at the National Stadium Velodrome, beginning at 11:00 am and 12:30 pm, respectively.

Kirk Finnikin, who is the newly elected president of the JCF which had its annual general election last July, said he is using this avenue to bring back cycling to what it was once many years ago.

He said eleven races are scheduled for Saturday and twelve for Sunday with the Gatorade Cup the feature event.

“This is only the beginning of what the JCF will be doing as they are other racing events in the making such as road circuit races,” he noted.

“For the past couple of years the sport of cycling has been at a low key (level) and we want to lift the standard once more by putting on a cycling treat for the general public, which they will also attend free of cost to the National Stadium Velodrome,” Finnikin added.

The cycling president said the two-day event is to reach out to the public, parents and their children. According to Finnikin, Jamaica needs to produce more cyclists, but claims “we have to start from the young ones… from the schools”.

Fiinikin revealed that the state-run Sports Development Foundation (SDF) is the main sponsor, along with Gatorade.

Finnikin spoke of one of the island’s top rider male rider, Marlo Rodman, who is expected to participate in the Cycling World Cup later this year.

“Should Rodman accumulate enough points, he will then qualify to compete in the World Cycling Championships to be held next year, and go on to qualify for the Olympic Games to be held in Rio Janeiro in Brazil next year,” said the cycling head.

— Gerald Reid