Guyana’s cycling queen bellows for more female competitors

Jun 22, 2017 Sports, http://www.kaieteurnewsonline....-female-competitors/

By Franklin Wilson
History has already recorded the fact that Claire Fraser-Green is undoubtedly the most decorated female cyclist this nation has seen in the post modern and modern eras.
The United Kingdom based cyclist has been paying her own way back to compete in the marquee event of the Guyana Cycling Federation (GCF), its national championships which are held in the month of June, yearly.
For the past six years, Fraser-Green has won the Time Trials and for the last five years she has ruled the roost in the Road Race, this year’s 53 miles being the longest ever but only attracted two starters.
Despite the dwindling numbers of females attracted to the sport, Fraser-Green continues to make the trek back to the land of her birth to make her contribution.
After wrapping up the double (Time Trials & Road Race) on Sunday last, winning the road race from Homestretch to Timehri and back in 2 hrs 29 minutes 49 seconds, and having already wrapped up the time trials the day before when she was the only female competitor, Fraser-Green spoke with Kaieteur Sport on her achievement noting that it is always an amazing feeling to come back to Guyana and compete.
”It was a fun race, there was a little bit of shenanigans going on but it was a good race, the boys did really well and we only had a little bit of rain which was really good.”
She made a passionate call for more women to take up the sport: “I would like more women to come and race me please, we need more women in the sport, we need to see more women racing at the Caribbean championships.”
Jokingly reminding that she is getting older and the opportunity for her being beaten is greater, Fraser-Green said she is hoping that at least five ladies will be facing starter’s orders at next year’s national championships.
”It’ll be fantastic to see at least five women on the start line next year, so that’s my challenge to you all, come out, please.”
The confident cyclist informed that she will be in Guyana for a while and is willing to assist and impart her knowledge to other females interested in the sport, noting that she has already embarked on a coaching career.
Females wishing to make contact with Fraser-Green can do so via facebook – Claire Fraser – or Guyana Cycling News.
Not ruling out retirement in a few years from now, Fraser-Green pointed out that she is already a cycling coach, while stating that she still has a few years left in her.
”I can’t give away all my secrets now though, or not all my secrets but am willing to assist the next generation of Guyanese females and others.”