The Virgin Islands Cycling Federation kicked off its championship weekend on Saturday with the Time Trial Championship, held on the familiar airport course. Riders tested their endurance and speed against the clock, setting the stage for Sunday’s road race finale.

In the Elite division, Stephen Swanton was the lone competitor over the 18-mile distance, completing three laps in commanding style. He powered through the course in 44 minutes, 6 seconds, setting a strong benchmark for the day.

The 12-mile Expert category delivered one of the closest finishes of the morning. Ted Prosper narrowly edged out veteran Jerry Remie by just two seconds, claiming victory in 32:40. Remie followed at 32:42, while James Bates secured third place in 33:54.

The Sport category also brought excitement, with the corrected results confirming Olani Vanterpool as the winner in 35:50. Newcomer Eliezer Hernandez impressed with a strong second-place finish in 36:22, and Joseph Bramble rounded out the podium in 38:45.

In the Women’s division, Robin Seila delivered a stunning performance. Not only did she win her category, but she also recorded the fastest overall time on the 12-mile course—an eye-catching 31:18, more than a minute ahead of the men’s Expert winner. Kat Brownsdon took second in 35:11, followed by Enid Francis in 43:41.

The Masters category, featuring riders aged 55 and older, saw Ralph Bartlett take top honors in 36:09. Chris Dorsey finished close behind in 36:35, with Nelson Rojas securing third in 39:54.

With strong performances across all categories, the Time Trial Championship set an exciting tone for the weekend as the cycling community looked ahead to Sunday’s VI Road Race Championship.

The Virgin Islands Cycling Federation capped off a grueling weekend of competition on Sunday with the VI Road Race Championship, following Saturday’s time trial. In an impressive show of endurance, eighteen local cyclists competed in both championship events, proving their grit on back-to-back race days.

A total of 26 riders lined up across five categories for Sunday’s road race, which started and finished in front of the former Milgie’s Convenience Store on St. Croix. Distances ranged from 50.5 miles for the elite cyclists to 15 miles for the masters and women.

In the Elite division, the small but determined field of three stayed together through the first 25-mile lap. On the second ascent of Yacht Club Hill, Stephen Swanton and Robin Seila broke away, leaving David Morales to ride solo for nearly 20 miles. The lead pair remained together until the final mile, where Swanton surged ahead to secure victory in 2 hours, 45 minutes, and 32 seconds. Seila crossed just four seconds later, while Morales claimed third in 2:56:56.

The Expert category fielded the largest group, with eight riders, including one female competitor. After riding the opening 25-mile lap together, the lead pack of five set up a dramatic sprint finish on the 15-mile closing loop. Scott “Moose” Marusa powered through to take the win in 2:13:23, edging out Joey “Baby” Swanson and James “Bobo” Bates by a single second. Esther Ellis, the lone woman in the field, rode strongly to finish in 2:24:47.

The Sport division contested two laps of the 15-mile circuit. Newcomer Eliezer “Dundee” Hernandez turned heads with an impressive debut, outsprinting his rivals to win in 1:45:57. Joseph Thomas followed in 1:46:14, with Olani Vanterpool securing third in 1:47:05. Junior rider Randy Williams also completed the course in 2:08:41.

In the Masters category, riders ranging from ages 55 to 71 showed age is no barrier to competition. Angel Ventura narrowly edged Ralph Bartlett at the line, both clocking 53:19 for the 15-mile race. Chris Dorsey rounded out the podium in 53:25.

The Women’s field demonstrated determination under the hot morning sun. Enid Francis claimed the title in 1:03:00, with Jody Goodrich second in 1:11:09 and Judy Gario third in 1:13:49.

Beyond the podium finishes, the Federation extended special recognition to Jerry Remie for his unwavering dedication. Remie has participated in every event on the cycling calendar this year—time trials, road races, group rides, and charity events—earning admiration for his persistence and positive presence in the cycling community.

The final event on the VICF’s 2025 calendar will be the America’s Paradise Challenge on October 12. For more information, please call 340-643-5050.