Cycling gets the chop by 'Alanders'

CYCLING has been dropped for the 2009 Island Games in Aland, a decision met with shock and bewilderment by our top cyclists. From their short-listed 18 sports the Aland organisers have confirmed there will be no room for cycling, tenpin bowling and triathlon.

'I am surprised and it's a shame,' said Ann Bowditch.

'It seems very strange. It's always been well supported,' said a disappointed David Harry, president of the Guernsey Velo Club.

Both Harry and Ian Brown, who won a cycling criterium bronze when the Games were previously held in Aland in 1991, can scarcely believe the decision.

'Having been a previous core sport and very spectator friendly - particularly the criterium - it's a terrible shame,' said Harry.

'Their bid document had intimated that cycling would be in.'

Former Commonwealth Games rider Brown, now retired, has fond memories of the 1991 event.

'It was excellent.'

He is puzzled by suggestions that Aland does not have a cycling infrastructure to stage it in three years time.

'The criterium was brilliant,' recalled Brown.

'They had a great figure of eight circuit.

'I don't understand that. Shetland didn't have an infrastructure but they staged it.'

The sport's demotion is even more surprising given that it had become traditional to end the games with the cycling criterium.

'It was a great way to close the Games,' said Brown.

Paul Brehaut, arguably Guernsey's top road racer, called it 'a big kick in the teeth' and Bowditch said it would have an effect on morale locally.

'In terms of Guernsey cycling the games is the big event every two years.

'From a Guernsey perspective we will have to look at other events.'