In a landmark achievement for Saint Lucian cycling, 18-year-old prodigy Denver Alphonse Jr. secured a bronze medal in the Under-23 category at the prestigious Grand Prix Mill€co.Shop held in Le Robert, Martinique, on February 21-22. Hailing from La Caye, Dennery, Alphonse demonstrated significant progress after his fifth-place finish in the Under-19 division just a year prior.
Competing for the ASC Karaïbes Culture Sports team—marking his second appearance in Martinique this season—Alphonse navigated a challenging two-stage course spanning 138.6 kilometers. The event, organized by Jeunesse Cycliste 231 under the sanction of the French Cycling Federation, featured 39 elite riders across multiple age categories. Alphonse finished an impressive 16th overall and clinched third place in the Under-23 group.
His performance was consistent across disciplines: he placed 15th in the six-kilometer time trial and 16th in the demanding road race. The route traversed several municipalities including Le François, Le Lamentin, and Le Robert, concluding at Place Christian Marajo in front of an enthusiastic crowd.
While Edwin Nubul of VC François won the final stage, overall victory went to Jules Chatelon of Madinina Bikers, who succeeded defending champion Stefan Bennett.
In a parallel honor, Alphonse’s national championship jersey was inducted into KOERS, the Museum of Cycle Racing in Roeselare, Belgium—a region renowned for cycling excellence. This recognition marks Alphonse as the first Saint Lucian cyclist to be featured in the esteemed institution.