Grant-Stuart well poised ahead of Para-Cycling event

– Thanks GCANA/NSC for assistance

Guyanese Differently Able cyclist Walter Grant-Stuart’s said he’s poised ahead of the upcoming Canadian Para-Cycling event, adding that he’s grateful for the overwhelming support from the local cycling fraternity as well as the National Sports Commission.
The class cyclist told Guyana Times Sport on Thursday, that he was in tip-top shape both mentally and physically as he continues his rigorous training leading up to the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) event which is set to pedal off from April 28th – 29th at the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, Montreal, Canada.

Stuart, who received financial assistance recently on behalf of the Guyana Cycling Association of North America (GCANA) members; former cyclists Monty Davis, Gavin Lowman, Victor Rutherford, Aubrey Gordon and Cecil ‘Dallas’ Bernard Rudolph ‘Duckie’ Apiah, Kevin Jeffery and Andrew King said he was very thankful for the all-round support he has been receiving.
“I wrote to a lot of places and they said no, so the persons that helped me I’m thankful because I don’t feel I’m entitled to anything, I’m just an athlete looking to go to this event and make his country proud”, said the cyclist.
A seasoned cyclist who has competed around numerous big races around the Caribbean, Grant-Stuart said that he has been stepping up his training in recent times to help when he arrives in Canada.
“I’m focused and very prepared based on my fitness and training programme, I’m very fit at the moment. For this particular event my recent results I try to end well I might be in the top five or six and this time I think Guyana has a good opportunity to win outright and gain the necessary qualification points for World Championships”.
Speaking about his regime, the cyclist said that he has been doing more cycling in terms of maintaining his endurance by riding to Linden and back, adding that his training these days, span usually six hours at a time.
“I normally train six hours a day, I usually ride from South to Linden and back. I’m trying to adjust to the colder sider by waking at 4 in the morning and try to train when it’s raining or its cold so I can acclimatize to the cold weather”. He said.
As the lone representative of Guyana, he will most certainly have his work cut out for his but the Guyanese remains poised that he can still emerged despite the odds being stacked against him. “I’m not taking anything for granted, because there will be riders from Italy, Germany, Belgium and they have 8 or 9 guys. I’m the only person representing Guyana, but the good thing for me I race at high levels around the world in big races”.
Concluding his interview, Stuart sent special thanks to the Cycling fraternity for yet again aiding in his quest to put Guyana on the map. He also made special mention of Director of Sports Chris Jones who he said has been extremely helpful in his campaign, as such he said that he will channel all the assistance he receives to make those home proud.
“For me I really want to go and do Guyana proud, I fell that Guyana national anthem should play at the Olympics whether it be at the regular Olympics or Para-Olympics. Guyana is missing a medal for years and I feel I could do it for my country”. He ended. (Clifton Ross)