World Champ Dream

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Despite being Trinidad and Tobago’s most accomplished cyclist at the World Track Cycling Championships, with two silver medals, cyclist Nicholas Paul wants more. He hopes to become a world champion.

His second-place finishes in the 1km time trial in 2021 and sprints in 2023 saw him surpass former T&T cyclists Roger Gibbon and Gene “Geronimo” Samuel, who each earned a medal at the World Champs.

Paul is the only T&T cyclist to have captured two at this level. However, he remains fixated on climbing to the top of the podium.
For 2025, Paul is focused on two main events: the Pan American Track Cycling Championships from April 1-6 in Paraguay and the World Champs from October 22-26 in Chile.

For Pan Am, he will be defending his men’s sprint and keirin titles for a third consecutive year.

“Worlds is one of the biggest events after the Olympic Games. I always want to go out there and put my best foot forward. I’m still chasing the World Championships stripes. I want to be able to wear the rainbow jersey, so that’s one of my goals always. When I go out there every year it is to try to win the rainbow jersey. It is always my main goal,” Paul said.
It’s easier said than done, Paul confirmed.

Nicholas Paul of Team Trinidad And Tobago celebrates with their flag after winning Gold during the Men’s Track Cycling Keirin Final on day two of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games at Lee Valley Velopark Velodrome on July 30, 2022 on the London, England. Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images

Paul is ranked fifth on the UCI’s individual men’s elite sprint ranking, with Dutch speedster and five-time Olympic gold medalist Harrie Lavreysen in the top position. Mateusz Rudyk (Poland), Mikhail Yakovlev (Israel), and Cristian Ortega Fontalvo (Colombia) are second to fourth, respectively.

Paul said, “There are a lot of countries that are really high in the sprints. The Dutch, French, and Englishmen—those guys are really great cyclists.

“But at the same time, I think I have developed myself to be one of the top cyclists as well so it’s just to go out there and execute good racing.”

“Because on any given day, you could get any rider (to race against), so you have to be able to race against all of them as they get placed in front of you. That’s why it’s important to be as fast and as tactical as possible.”

When asked what it would mean for him to become a world champion in the sprint or keirin events, Paul said it was one of his biggest dreams.

“Every year, I have to keep putting in the hard work, go out there, and try to achieve it. Nothing good comes easily. You have to put in the work to achieve what you want. I hope to achieve success at the Worlds and Olympics whenever it comes. I’ve been chasing it, and I have to keep at it, trying to get it done.”

He said training continues to be world-class at the World Cycling Centre in Aigle, Switzerland. Under the expert guidance of coach Craig MacLean there, Paul is in good hands on his quest for glory.