US blockade affects the practice of cycling in Cuba

CIEGO DE AVILA, Cuba, Apr 14 (ACN) The obstacles imposed by the economic, commercial and financial blockade of the United States government against Cuba are currently having a great impact on the practice of cycling as a sport.

Argimiro Gonzalez Jorge, commissioner of this sport in Ciego de Avila(central Cuba), denounced today in this city that the restrictions caused by that hostile policy hinder the periodic acquisition of bicycles and their accessories, both for school areas and for academies and National Technical Centers.

For example - he said - the province has not benefited since 2015 from the entry of new equipment, which forces to keep the 29 that exist fit, through inventive teachers and athletes.

Among the contributions made to keep them active are tire repairs and replacement of the ball boxes of the connecting rod center by Teflon (plastic material very resistant to heat and corrosion used to manufacture coatings), the professor said.

The U.S. blockade has forced us to look for alternatives to continue with this sport, which is so popular in the province, recognized for a long time in the country as the Capital of Cuban cycling, due to the number of athletes that every year were part of national teams, Gonzalez Jorge added.

The cycling academy of Ciego de Avila today attends eight athletes of the under-23 and elite categories, eight of the pioneer category and provides internal services to more than 20 students of the Sports Initiation School (EIDE by its Spanish acronym) Marina Samuel Noble, in the province.
Sports in the Caribbean nation are affected by this inhumane policy, as they take implements, clothing, as well as equipment in the facilities, which is more expensive and increasingly difficult to access.

High competition cycling is one of the most expensive disciplines; a professional bicycle (made of carbon fiber and adapted to the conditions of each athlete) costs from seven thousand to 10 dollars, plus the cost of clothing (lycras and special last generation shoes that regulate body

temperature and provide better aerodynamics), compressed icopor helmet, sunglasses with sunscreen and cyclocomputer that records distance, speed and heart rate, which makes its practice very restrictive to countries with fewer possibilities.

Thus, Cuba - with a recognized cycling tradition - has even fewer opportunities, as it does not have access or possibilities of acquiring the equipment in the U.S. market, which is the main market for this sport.