Cayman will play host to one of the world's top cycling teams when they hold their first training camp in Grand Cayman later this year.

Getting sporting events of international stature to the Cayman Islands can be a challenge. Most established sporting events are tied to a country or venue already, and attracting internationally recognised names to a newly created event presents a big challenge. However, thanks to some out the box thinking and strong support from the local business community, Grand Cayman will be hosting one of the world’s top cycling teams for its first training camp of the 2011 season, in late November.

Earlier this year Team Garmin-Transitions announced that they would be merging with the Cervelo Test Team, and it is this merger that drove the new team to search for the ideal venue to build team spirit between the new team members. As a number of the current members of Garmin-Transitions have visited Cayman in the past and spoken highly of the Island, Team Director Jonathan Vaughters was quick to enquire on the possibility of Cayman hosting the first team camp. 

The event will bring some of the world’s top cyclists to Cayman, including reigning world champion Thor Hushovd, Commonwealth Games gold medallist David Millar, and former top five finisher in the Tour de France Christian Vande Velde.

With 30 cyclists and a large number of support staff set to attend the camp, it will be hard to miss the cyclists.

The international nature of the team means that cyclists will be converging on Cayman from all over the world, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Norway, Germany and Australia.

“They could have gone anywhere in the world, but they chose to come to Cayman,” says Tom McCallum, the local organiser of the event.

This message was not lost on the local business community, which has responded overwhelmingly to the event.

“What this really is saying is that Cayman is a world-class destination for cyclists to visit. Having recognised that, local businesses started calling us, saying ‘We want to be part of Team Cayman and help show them what Cayman can do’.”

Part of the attraction of the event was not only the international exposure it could generate for Cayman, but the lifestyle it promotes.

“The local business community have really stepped up to this - they want to do it to encourage more and more people to get out, be active, be healthy and ride,” says McCallum.

“They’re more focussed on saying ‘How can I help’ than ‘What can I get out of this’ and that’s brilliant to see. So far some 30 businesses and organisations throughout the Cayman business community and even internationally have already stepped up to offer their support of this event.”

Developing the sport of cycling in Cayman also forms an important part of event and the work of the Cayman Islands Cycling Association. McCallum says the sponsors have also taken this message to heart.

“Each of the sponsors get a race entry [to race with the pros], and of course there will be limited numbers in this race, and several of the sponsors have come forward to us and asked that the cycling association find a young rider who would otherwise not have the opportunity to take part, and they will donate their ride ticket to the young cyclist,” says McCallum.

One of the Garmin-Transitions team members, Peter Stetina, is a regular visitor to Cayman, and will be taking part in the Reefathlon event the weekend before the team camp.

“Peter Stetina has taken a leading role as a supporter of the Cayman Islands in pushing this with his team. He volunteered to do as much as he can with the community and is going to work with Barry Jones, vice president of the Cycling Association, to do school appearances,” says McCallum.

The Ministry and Department of Tourism became involved in the event early on as it immediately saw the potential for promoting the Cayman Islands.

“The fact that the Cayman Islands has been selected as the host destination for the Garmin-Transitions training camp is a major triumph for the Islands and underscores the fact that we are becoming recognised as an emerging destination for signature sports related activities and international sporting events,” says Shomari Scott, acting director of tourism.

According to Scott, the camp is also expected to attract widespread media coverage which will not only boost the department’s efforts to raise the profile of the Cayman Islands internationally, but will further endorse the Cayman Islands position as a preferred sports tourism destination.

“This will allow us to actively seek other such opportunities in the future, which over the longer term, will deliver repeat visitation and sustainable benefits to the Caymanian population,” says Scott.

One of the major sponsors of the event is Piedra Winery, owned by Grant Stein, global managing partner with Walkers.

“Cycling apparently is the new golf so a very large number of people in the Americas and Europe have taken up the sport and follow the activities of the top teams,” says Stein.

“To have the chance to host one of the top teams in the world in Cayman during the off-season is a fantastic opportunity to promote ourselves as a winter training destination and at the same time raise our profile with the large number of cycling enthusiasts in the western world. The press coverage of the event, both in Cayman and internationally, should more than justify a good level of sponsorship of the event by local businesses.”

For Stein, the sponsorship is about more than the exposure his company can get out of it.

“I have enjoyed cycling most of my life and by sponsoring the event in Cayman through our Spanish wine business, I hope to encourage more people in Cayman to take up cycling for fun and fitness. Like red wine, cycling is good for your health,” says Stein.

Tortuga Rum has also signed on to sponsor the event, with Robert Hamaty seeing this as a perfect example of how the private sector can help boost tourism in Cayman.

“The private sector needs to get very involved and I think this thing that Mr. McCallum is doing is tremendous. I’ve given him my full support, and I believe this can grow into an annual event. These sporting events can generate free international publicity - that’s millions and millions of dollars of exposure that we can’t buy,” says Hamaty.

The effect on the local community beyond the media exposure is also a very important element that sets sporting events apart from regular tourism.

“Any of the sporting events, the athletes are at the parties with the local people, they get to know the country and they develop a love for it and they will return. It’s a full taste of the Cayman Islands when they have that experience where they are interacting with the local people at these events,” says Hamaty.

Public Events

On Thursday 2 December, sponsors and members of the public will have the opportunity to ride with the professionals. The event will start from the Reef Resort in East End, with the race entry fee of CI$100 including a limited edition, autographed cycling shirt, as well as refreshments and a meet and greet with the cyclists after the ride.

On Thursday evening, there will be a charity auction and meet and greet at Camana Bay, the proceeds of which will benefit the Cayman Islands Cancer Society. The auction will feature unique cycling sports memorabilia donated by the Garmin-Transitions team. Tickets for the event will also be CI$100, with Abacus providing catering.

There are still opportunities available for corporate support and individual patrons to become involved in the event. For more information, contact Tom McCallum at tom@mccallumsolutions.com