Lovell wants GCF to adopt UCI competition rules

Feb 19, 2012 Sports

By Edison Jefford
The Cyclists Representative on the Guyana Cycling Federation (GCF), Kennard Lovell wants the federation to adopt the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI: International Cycling Federation) age category rules, especially as it relates to the Masters’ category.
Lovell told Kaieteur Sport yesterday in a brief interview that the GCF Masters’ category begins from age 35, which is in contravention of the UCI rules.

He said that this issue has forced unfair competition for cyclists who are genuine Masters’ competitors.
However, there is a clause in the UCI Cycling Regulations that states that the Masters’ category “shall comprise riders of 30 years and above who elect the status and the choice of Masters status shall not be open to a rider belonging to a team registered with the UCI.”
Lovell indicated that Guyana has no team registered with the UCI; therefore that clause does not take effect locally.

As a result, he is contending that the basic UCI rule suggests that the Masters’ category begins from age 40 and that obtains internationally.
“They (GCF) is saying that there are not enough Masters over 40 that is why they have lowered the age to 35, but that is causing a lot of problems because a lot of riders are opting to compete in the Masters category now rather than the Senior category,” Lovell noted.
He said it is not creating a level playing field and the federation does not seem to notice what has been happening in the category because there is less focus on the Masters.

Lovell mentioned that he is not being taken seriously at the federation level with this issue.
“It is getting to me so much now that I want to resign as Cyclists Representative and get others to form a representative body to address cyclists issues,” he said, adding that there were attempts in the past to expel him because of the concerns he had raised.

Lovell indicated that if he does not get redress at the GCF level he is inclined to write the UCI on the subject. The veteran local cyclist said that he is not making a case for himself because he is a consistent podium finisher on the local competition circuit.
He informed that there are other genuine Masters cyclists who feel that they are not being treated fairly and has complained to him. Lovell is the man that represents the cyclists and their issues at the GCF level. His role is tantamount to what can be called unionism.