Nicholas Paul blazes to Pan Am Keirin Gold

Trinidad and Tobago sprint Nicholas Paul won gold in the men’s Keirin final at the 2023 Elite Pan American Track Championships at the Vicente Chancay Velodrome in San Juan, Argentina recently.

Paul and fellow T&T cyclist, Kwesi Browne both competed in the finals. When the motorised scooter came off the track the T&T cyclists were out of the top three, but Paul seemed to be timing his move to the front.

With less than two laps left in the race, Paul made his move on the outside and took the lead. He continued to accelerate and extended his lead over the pack. The 24-year-old national sprint and Keirin champion was too quick to be caught and easily won gold. Browne finished sixth.

Earlier Paul, Browne and Zion Pulido copped silver in the team sprint. In the gold medal ride against Canada, T&T clocked 45.291 seconds to claim the silver medal. The Canada team of James Hedgcock, Tyler Rorke and Nick Wammes stopped the clock in 43.384. Colombia settled for third and Mexico was fourth.

Women’s cyclist Phoebe Sandy, who is still a junior, finished 23rd in 11.897 seconds in the women’s sprint qualification but did not advance as only 16 progressed. Canadian Laurianne Genest had the fastest time of 10.441.

Also, TT endurance rider Alexi Ramirez ended the 10K women’s scratch race final on the 11th place among the 13 participants.