Cyclist Ryan D'Abreau eager for Junior Worlds debut

TT SPRINT cyclist Ryan D’Abreau is slowly pedalling his way to attaining the targets on two GoFundMe accounts set up to finance his Junior World Track Cycling Championships campaign in September.

The 17-year-old is close to achieving his US$8,000 goal on one account but still needs much assistance to get to the TT$56,000 mark on the other. He is, however, confident that the coming months would see an increase in financial aid from the crowd funding platform.

D’Abreau was the only cyclist selected to represent TT at Junior Worlds after he met certain performance criteria at the TT Cycling Federation’s (TTCF) two-leg assessment events at the National Cycling Centre, Couva in January.

These assessments also served as trials for national team selection to the now-postponed Elite Pan Ams (Peru) and Junior Worlds (Egypt).

When D’Abreau was called to represent TT on the biggest stage of his junior career, he immediately started the GoFundMe campaign.

“It started off a bit slowly but I’m getting some assistance now so it’s looking better. I’m very close to reaching my US dollar goal but I still need some help in the TT GoFundMe campaign. We’re getting there slowly,” he said.

After receiving the news that he would be heading to Cairo, Egypt to fly the red, white and black along the Egyptian Cycling Federation’s newly laid indoor track, D’Abreau was elated.

“It felt good. I was pleased to qualify. Last year, I didn’t get my chance because of covid19 and this was my last year to qualify as a junior. I was surprised when I did qualify because the trials were early in the year and I was not fully prepared.

“My parents and grandparents were very proud. Their heads dipped a bit last year because the pandemic prevented all qualification meets. And because trials were early this year, their expectations weren’t really that high. So when I did qualify, it was a great feeling,” he added.

Academically, D’Abreau is pursuing his degree in mechanical engineering at the MIC Institute of Technology. He attended Arima North Secondary and is a member of Arima Wheelers Cycling Club.

He does relatively well balancing both his academics and sport.

“Training has increased a lot. I’m balancing it well because I don’t have to go to school every day. The few days that I have school and training together, it can be a bit tiresome, but I’m making it work,” D’Abreau said.

The sprint cyclist, his coach Fitzroy Daniel and other members of Arima Wheelers hit the indoor track in Couva twice per week. Daniel prefers to utilise this facility for training since it would be same type of track D’Abreau will be competing on in Egypt.

D’Abreau holds in high regard his Olympic-bound club-mate, Browne, who is currently in Switzerland alongside Paul preparing for the Tokyo Games.

“Before he (Browne) left to train for Olympics, there were certain days he took me with him to train on the roads, so I’ve trained with him a few times. Kwesi Browne is my role model. He never misses training, always on time and is someone to look up to,” he said.