Old Harbour cyclist claims national title in major upset

The Elevation Cycling Club rider bided his time perfectly when he broke from the leading group at Discovery Bay and was never challenged en route to the biggest achievement in his cycling career. 

This shocking upset was delivered in dominant fashion by McFarlane, as he finished more than a minute ahead of pre-race favourite and defending champion Andrew Ramsay, who came second, and veteran Cleveland Sharpe, who rolled back the years to finish impressively in third. 

Following the time trials the previous day topped by Ramsay, no-one thought McFarlane had a real chance after he finished almost two minutes behind the leader in seventh position. But the Sharper Lane resident, who took up the sport in 2022, had his eyes set on what many believed to be beyond him. 

In as much as it is an individual event, plenty team strategies were at play in this 104km course looped at Falmouth, the Trelawny capital. McFarlane’s teammate Jaequan Dixon, another of the bookmaker’s choice going into the championship, went on the attack early to put pressure on the peloton. A small breakaway group comprising of three Elevation riders – Thailer Hill, Dixon and McFarlane, along with Russell Small and Sharpe – emerged at the start of the return leg. Surely the winner was going to come from this bunch, but it was at the Rio Bueno descent into a strong headwind that McFarlane made his winning move. And by the time the others realized what was happening and tried to respond it was too little, too late as McFarlane raised his arms aloft to roars of applause crossing the finish line. 

“I didn’t have a steady plan, but coming back I see the opportunity and make my move,” McFarlane said in an interview with Old Harbour News. “Coming back we were into a headwind, there were about four of us, and they were slowing down, so I just made my move and keep the pace high.” He added that with the last four miles to go he knew he had the race won “as they were far away from me”. 

“I’m more motivated,” he stated regarding his immediate objectives. “I just need to stay focus and being able to train.”

This victory undoubtedly has further cemented Elevation Cycling Club – based here in Old Harbour – as the foremost cycling club in Jamaica at the moment. The club now boasts four national champions with McFarlane, joining club mate Barrington Bailey, champion of the 2022 men's title; Jerome Forrest, the 2023 national elite men’s winner and Dixon, who retained the under-23 title for the fourth consecutive year. Though he is yet to win a major title, Peter Robinson, another youth prodigy in the club deserves special mention as a perennial podium finisher – this time finishing third behind Dixon and Kristan McFarlane.

“It’s a great feeling to be the second national elite champion for the club,” says the 25-year-old McFarlane. 

Club coach Orwyn Richmond commended the team for sticking to the plan, but understandably had special praise for the newly crowned champion.

“It was a hard-fought race, one in which we strategize that Elevation Cycling Club – with our various training sessions, with our various planning meetings, we got the machinery and all the moving parts to work together so that we could have executed the successful capturing of the Jamaica National Cycling Championship,” he said. 

“It proves that the riders would have put in the work and the training necessary to capture this title. As for Melvin, I’m sure he will enjoy wearing the title of champion of the Jamaica cycling federation for the year ahead. He has put in quite a bit of work over the years and it is paying off and as coach of Elevation Cycling Club I am proud to see him win. I am proud to see Jaequan also topping the under-23 group and the result we would have gotten as a club.” 

It was a fantastic performance and a total team effort by the club, stated club president Velana Creary who was present to witness history unfold. She also reserved special commendation for the club’s partners, saying: “Thanks to all our supporters locally and internationally we couldn’t have done it without your amazing support. We at Elevation Cycling Club are extremely grateful to have each of you on board to engage and be a part of our programs.”

With momentum on his side, McFarlane’s breakthrough signals the rise of a new force in Jamaican cycling, one eager to make waves beyond local shores.