Sharpe hoping to pave the way for improvements in cycling

NATIONAL CYCLIST Llori Sharpe says she hopes signing with the European female cycling team Canyon//SRAM Generation will help to improve the sport in Jamaica.

The cyclist has expressed gratitude for becoming the first Jamaican to hold a professional contract with a European club after she joined the eight-member international team.

“While competing for Canyon//SRAM, I hope to achieve greater exposure to the world of competitive cycling, develop my cycling capabilities, and meet and interact with individuals of the larger cycling community from all over the world,” she said.

Sharpe said, while racing for the team, she hopes she will attract sponsors who would be willing to help the development of the sport in Jamaica.

“It would be awesome if an entity/company would approach me and offer their assistance where possible, but I’d much rather if my signing with Canyon//SRAM would attract entities who’d want to provide sponsorship to other Jamaican cyclists,” she said.

Sharpe said sponsorships are needed because many Jamaican cyclists cannot afford the expenses of the sport.

“Cycling can be quite costly. So if entities/companies could provide any sort of assistance to other local cyclists, especially the juniors, in acquiring the necessary resources - bicycle, gears, or otherwise, or possibly funding trips to competitive events, undoubtedly, the growth of Jamaican cycling will continue, and that’s what I want to see,” she said.

PERSONAL GOALS

She said, apart from possible sponsorship opportunities, she hopes that the experience and growth she will gain from competing with the Canyon//SRAM team at major cycling races will help achieve personal goals, which involves her representing Jamaica at the highest level.

“Personally, my goal as a competitive athlete has always been to represent Jamaica at major sporting events such as the World Championships and the Olympic Games,” she said.

“On another note, I hope that my involvement in cycling would inspire others, especially young girls, to take up the sport. Aside from achieving my own success, I’d really want the sport on a whole in Jamaica to experience its own successes.”

The former triathlete, who is now focused on cycling after a knee injury and COVID-19’s impact on her training schedule, has already had some successes in representing Jamaica, as she earned a bronze medal at the Caribbean Cycling Championships in 2021.

But the 21-year-old said she has a lot more to achieve and is hoping more Jamaican women will join her on the journey.