‘I don’t think we’ll win medals’ – Wallbridge

Now finding himself in a good position to fill most of the 20 spots for this summer’s Island Games, the Guernsey Velo Club president admitted that, as recently as mid-November, he thought he would have to step in as a rider to make up numbers.

At that point they had just six riders – three men’s mountain-bikers, two men’s road, and one woman – up for selection.

‘The Guernsey [2023] Games were the highlight of a number

of people’s cycling careers,’ he said.

‘A lot stopped racing at that level after the Guernsey Games, which left a bit of a void.

‘Orkney’s not proving overly attractive to others – the cost and the uncertainty about accommodation.’

He referred to the situation as a ‘bit of a disaster’ and highlighted the importance of supporting the Games – lest the event be left in jeopardy.

Following messages to the membership and a loosening of qualifying standards, many riders have come forward and they are now on track to select five-strong teams in the men’s road and mountain-bike, plus the same number of women in the former. It is only the women’s mountain- biking that is left unfilled.

Wallbridge has followed with the stark admission, ‘I don’t think we’re going to win medals.’

The selection process is still ongoing, particularly in men’s mountain biking, where six riders are vying for two vacant spots.

But the Velo Club president knows there will be almost no overlap with the squad they sent out on home soil in 2023.

‘Out of 20 cyclists we put forward to the 2023 Games, only one is going back to Orkney.’

Although not yet willing to publicly reveal names, Wallbridge has confirmed that two members of the selected women’s triathlon team are looking at the road cycling events. They have also received interest from a UK-based Guernsey woman with a Category Two racing licence.

He has also confirmed that there are four younger riders that can use Orkney as a development opportunity.

One unfortunate rider to miss out is 14-year-old Zach Smith – already one of the island’s top mountain bikers, yet too young for selection.

‘Sadly, we can’t have him,’ Wallbridge added. ‘If we could, we would.’

Overall, he is thankful for the riders that have come forward and will be hoping to get the best out of them come Games week.

‘We’re going to go with a team of riders – which we were not sure of before.

‘This is not going to be one of those American movies where you take a bunch of misfits and they win the Super Bowl.

‘But we will do our best to get better than we are today.

‘It’s quite exciting.’