Page 16 - Team TTO PARIS 2024

Browne

banking on speed
and endurance

SHELDON WAITHE
All eyes might be on Nicholas Paul to preparation as the physical, “You have to prepare for
anything and that depends too on where you are drawn
bring Olympic cycling glory to T&T but behind the Derny (motorbike). In one race you could be in
don’t underestimate Kwesi Brown who position 1, the next race you’re in position 6. The faster guy
is repping the red, white and black in could be in front of you or behind; you have to be ready to
the fast, exciting and often dangerous react to any situation.”
Keirin. Having ridden the Paris Velodrome two years ago and
taking a liking to it – “It has more speed!”
After surprising global cycling pundits by progressing to
the semi-finals of the Keirin in Tokyo, Kwesi Browne goes Browne knows that away from the track, switching off is
into his second Olympic Games confident that the hard important. He relies on one of the favourite Trinbagonian
work that he has put into qualifying for Paris, will stand pastimes “In the Olympic Village, I relax with my peers,
him in good stead come race day. playing cards to take my mind off racing and decompress.”

“I’m coming off my best season, post-Olympics, so going But at the Velodrome, its supreme focus “I stay in the
into these Games I am where I want to be. I had two moment, concentrate on what I have to do and zone out
rough seasons, without a coach, where I had to figure out everything else that’s going on within the velodrome. Just
what I needed to move forward. I think I ticked all those stay in my little bubble.”
boxes heading into 2024, where everything has clicked
so far.” On the start line, the excitement of the Keirin pops
that bubble, with Browne aiming to take
Browne has qualified for both the Sprint and Keirin advantage of the organised chaos and achieve
but is concentrating on the latter, given his Olympic glory for his nation.
shrewd tactics in the six-rider bunched event,
as any one that witnessed his cunning ride to
get into the quarterfinals in Tokyo will attest.

“I’m focusing more on the Keirin, that’s my The Keirin starts with riders being
better event. So, there’s been more held by helpers and taking off from
on my speed and strength a standstill. However, the Keirin
uses a pacer on an electric
endurance, because it’s a much motorbike to bring the pack of six or
longer sprint.” fewer opponents up to speed.
Before the start, riders draw lots to
The beauty of the Keirin is see where they will be positioned
its unpredictability; anything behind the pacer and, after
take-off, they must settle into
can happen. Riders can go that order as the race begins.
for a long sprint to catch
their opponents by surprise, The riders sit in a line behind
favourites can get blocked or nations with the pacer for three laps, being
two riders in the same heat can work brought gradually up to 50kph.
They must remain behind the
together. pacer until it leaves the track,
then all bets are off and riders
With multiple scenarios possible, use a combination of strategy,
Browne knows that it’s as positioning and strength to be the
much the mental first across the finish line.

Sheldon Waithe is the creative director at
commiquett.com

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