Watson hopeful Eastmond can ride at Elite Pan Am

JELANI BECKLES

Edward Watson, manager of injured Barbadian cyclist Jamol Eastmond, is hopeful that he would compete at the Elite Pan American Championships to be held at the National Cycling Centre in Couva, from August 30 to September 3.

Eastmond and fellow Barbadian cyclist Edwin Sutherland were involved in an accident with a maxi-taxi in Chaguaramas around 9 am on Monday.

Sutherland escaped with minor bruises, while Eastmond suffered injuries to the head. Sutherland is already training again, while Eastmond is at home resting but is being monitored by a physiotherapist.

Watson is optimistic that Eastmond would be fit enough to compete at the Elite Pan Am Championships. Watson said yesterday, “I am hopeful (he will compete) because the CT scan was negative, the blood work was negative. He is still suffering with headaches and some soft tissue will have caused body pain from the blow that he took. He is very fortunate to be alive and coherent at this point in time so we give thanks for that.”

Watson said there will be a lot of cyclists training on the road in TT in the coming six weeks, due to the number of events being hosted by this country.

Following the Elite Pan American Championships, the Republic Day Cycling Classic, the Tobago International Cycling Classic and the Beacon Cycling on the Avenue event will take place.