MARIGOT--Board members of Velo Club de Grand Case (VCG)--coordinator René Arnell and President Saint-Elmo “Moté” Arnell--and team rider Jayson Rousseau discussed the team’s performance at the 68th Tour of Guadeloupe with the media Saturday at a lunch to say goodbye to Rousseau who is leaving for France to continue his studies.
VCG’s Colombian rider Eva Rivera Guerrero was the highest placed finisher for the team in the General Classification (GC) placing fifth. He also finished third in one race. A late surge by Jayson Rousseau in the last race produced a satisfying fifth place. The team finished sixth out of 18 teams and won two Green Jerseys for Most Combative Rider. 125 riders started the Tour from 25 teams.
René Arnell noted the very fast pace of the race (average 41kph) and strong media support for the Guadeloupe teams, particularly the team of eventual winner Boris Carène, made it difficult for other teams to stay in contention.
“We were already at a disadvantage having struggled to get a team together after Hurricane Irma and train,” he disclosed. “But I’m satisfied with our performance under the circumstances. VCG is back and still at a high level and looking to the future.”
President St. Elmo Arnell said he was 50-50 satisfied. “The fact is our preparation was late to get a really good team together. It’s like missing the train at the station and waiting for the next one which is also late. Personally, I did not expect to get more out of the race than what we got.
“It was unfortunate that the individual riders each had their issues. But we were getting stronger in the race each day and I think if we had three more days we would have had a better overall result.”
Adding to the team’s woes was the crash that led to the abandonment of the other Colombian rider Hernan Parra Suarez. He crashed on a descent, colliding with a car and suffered injuries and a broken bike. The youngest team rider Allain Perramin also retired after the second stage with mechanical issues.
Ludovic Turpin, normally the team leader, had secured a job with the Tour de France and so had to fulfil his commitment there which left him little time to train for the Tour of Guadeloupe. But he was happy to ride in a support role for the team. Arnell said Turpin’s future with the VCG will be reviewed in October.
Jayson Rousseau (24) who won two stages in the Tour of Guadeloupe last year also had his own problems. He was forced to quit his Japanese team in France after a dispute over paying expenses. According to Jayson his expenses were supposed to be reimbursed.
“My expenses ended up being more than my earnings and it was getting to be too much,” he explained. “I had no option but to leave the team. For the next three months I had to work to make money and pay off other debts. My last race was on May 5. So, I came to the Tour de Guadeloupe in limited condition. But in fact, as the race went on I got stronger.”
Despite the individual setbacks Rousseau said there was still a good atmosphere amongst the team. “With Ludovic not in the best of shape we were supporting Rivera Guerrero. By the end of the tour he was flying. In my opinion he should have come to the tour two weeks earlier instead of one week to acclimatize. That could have got him a place on the podium.”
St. Elmo, who hinted at a possible retirement next year, said VCG’s focus will be equally on training the young kids of which there are some 20 in the club.
VCG’s participation in the Tour of Guadeloupe was made possible by Dauphin Telecom, Collectivité of St. Martin, Préfecture, SB, PR Communication, Senarex, Aigle Batiment, NAGICO Insurances, Tackling Insurances, Sandy’s Too, La Source guest house, Franck Auto Plus, ISA Shipping, Jopolo, CTA Charpente, L’Etoile Gourmande, N.E.Depann’, Boulangerie et Patisserie Gabriel, Velo Passion Caraibes, LET’S, and Yag Consultation.
