Stephen Meyer Podiums in Trinidad

Stephen Meyer an Ontario track athlete, spent his Easter weekend racing in the Easter Grand Prix in Arima, Trinidad. Meyer was the only Canadian racing at this international track competition and received some help from the American team.

Meyer had a tough start to the weekend of racing but this was all forgotten during the final, which featured the 15 kilometer scratch race. This race was 30 laps on the 500 meter track. Four racers launched an attack right away and after 1500m the Canadian bridged up. Three of the riders got dropped leaving Meyer with just one other rider whom he rode off his wheel “leaving me out in the wind on my own. I stayed away solo, and took my first win of the weekend!”

Avoiding some rough crashes on the second day of racing, Meyer won third place in a field sprint in a race of an unknown distance. He snagged his second third place of the day in the 15 kilometer points race.

Of the final night, Meyer says, “my legs were feeling pretty wrecked, and I was hoping that everyone else was feeling the same way. The first endurance event of the night was a 5 km scratch race. With 2 km to go, Alzate attacked, and I quickly bridged up to him. Neither of us wanted to pull for the final lap, so some cat-and-mouse action started. With the pack gaining on us, I attacked him in corner three, and took my second win on the weekend!

“Overall it was a great experience. I made it to Maracas Bay , had a Bake n’ Shark, and met some really cool people, locals and the international racers. I will definitely be back, and wish luck to the Canadians going down for the Beacon Races!”

Elsewhere in track racing action, Canadians are racing in Los Angeles this weekend for the Pan American Championship Selection Trials. Following this, racers Daniele Defranceschi, Jean-Michel Lachance, Adam Thuss, and Stephane Cossette depart for a few weeks of racing in Trinidad .

Be sure to tune into CBC television on Saturday April 10th to watch coverage of the 2010 World Track Cycling Championships. The coverage airs from 3:30 to 5:30 pm EST and features two-time World Champion and gold medalist, Tara Whitten.