The Saint Lucia Cycling Association (SLCA) has wrapped up a dynamic summer of progress, advancing two key pillars of the island nation’s cycling growth: nurturing young local talent and supporting elite competitive aspirations, as the country’s top young cyclist gears up for a major global stage next month.
Nineteen-year-old Denver Alphonse Jr., the current reigning national cycling champion hailing from La Caye, Dennery, is halfway through a rigorous six-week elite training block at the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) Continental Development Satellite Centre based in Bromont, Canada. The rising star is fine-tuning his form ahead of the upcoming UCI Road World Championships, scheduled to take place in Montreal from September 20 to 27.
Alphonse’s 2026 competitive season has already marked a series of historic milestones for Saint Lucia cycling. In June, he secured a clean sweep of national titles, taking home first place in both the elite road race and individual time trial events. This victory adds to his 2025 national road championship crown, cementing his status as the country’s most promising young cycling talent.
Riding for the Martinique-based team ASC Karaïbes Culture Sports (KCS), Alphonse earned a spot on the Under-23 podium at the Grand Prix Mill€co.Shop earlier this year, and went on to represent Saint Lucia at the Pan American Championships hosted in Colombia. He also competed at the 2025 UCI Road World Championships in Rwanda, becoming the first Saint Lucian cyclist in history to have his national team jersey added to the permanent collection of Belgium’s KOERS Museum of Cycling, a landmark recognition for the island nation’s small but growing cycling community.
During his current training stint in Bromont, Alphonse trains alongside experienced French cyclist Benjamin Payen, under the continued guidance of his long-time coach Alex Noreskal. Alphonse and Noreskal have previously worked together alongside Payen during training and regional competitions in Martinique with KCS.
While the elite rider chases global success abroad, the SLCA has been building the sport’s future at home. The association recently concluded a week-long youth development summer camp in Vieux Fort, bringing together 20 young riders from three local primary schools — Plain View Combined School, Vieux Fort Primary, and Augier Combined — for hands-on instruction led by experienced coach Leo Serieux.
The camp was designed to introduce young participants to the fundamentals of competitive and recreational cycling, covering core topics including cycling theory, sports nutrition, basic exercise physiology, road safety rules, and introductory race preparation strategies. At the camp’s closing ceremony, Danny Butcher, Member of Parliament for Vieux Fort South, awarded completion certificates to all participating young riders to mark their achievement.
The dual focus on elite international competition and grassroots youth development this summer reflects the SLCA’s long-term strategy to grow cycling across Saint Lucia, creating pathways for new talent to emerge and compete at the highest global levels.