Hamilton bags 13 medals
..W.I vs the World
By Michael DaSilva
Stabroek News
May 9, 2003
For some 13 is an unlucky number, but not for Tyrone Hamilton. The Roraima Bikers cyclist bagged 13 medals at the just concluded West Indies versus the World Cycling Series.
Hamilton who was a member of the West Indies cycling team that opposed the Rest of the World in a one month Series, won one gold, four silver and eight bronze medals while contesting the international class.
Hamilton won the gold medal in an unknown distance event, beating Barbados' Carlitos Jones and Cuba's Michael Pedrosa into second and third respectively. Switzerland's Philip Michel ended fourth.
His silver medals were secured in a two-lap road race, an eight-lap track event, a `Devil take the Hindmost' (track) and the Kerin (track). He also placed fourth in the match sprint.
The latter two are Olympic events.
Hamilton who was selected for the West Indies team based on his performance at last year's Series when he rode as a category one cyclist and also the fact that he was the most outstanding cyclist at the Guyana Cycling Federation's National Championships last year, won the eight bronze medals in four, six and eight lap track races.
In the win and out race, Hamilton was beaten into third by Canada's Glen Rendall and Cuba's Joel Marinino, while in a 35-lap feature race at Skinner Park, Trinidad, the ambitious Hamilton was beaten into third by Marinio and Pedrosa who finished first and second respectively.
In the match sprint, Hamilton placed fourth to Cuba's Julio Herreira, Trinidad's Elisha Green and Pedrosa respectively. He had earlier disposed of United Kingdom's Robin Thompson in the quarter-final round, clocking 12.10 seconds and 12.13 seconds respectively.
Speaking to Stabroek Sport yesterday, Hamilton said he leant quite a lot during the series, but the only way forward for him, is to get more international exposure.
According to Hamilton, his coach James Fowler carried him through a six-week training period leading up to the Series, so he was well prepared in terms of milage and speed.
Hamilton said he was very confident he would have done well and was at no time afraid of the world class opposition he knew he was coming up against.
"It's not just speed and power, you have to use your head, know when to move and how to move, know when to attack and so on" Hamilton stated. He continued "you can be very fast and yet someone who is much slower than you are might beat you, because he might be a better tactical rider than you, and knows to use the banking well".
"To improve you have to get more competition. If you want to get up there you can't stay here (Guyana). When you hear the countries and competitions the other guys attended you will understand. Some of them that I beat are going to the Pan Am Games in Santo Domingo this year".
Hamilton would like to thank the following persons for making his participation possible; Classic Developers and Contractors, Dream Works, George Humphrey, K. C's Beauty and Barber Salon, Series Director/organiser Michael Phillips (Trinidad), Canadian based Guyanese and former national champion Aubrey Bryce for providing the six-week training programme and club coach James Fowler.
