Cycling: the way forward
Recently elected president of the Saint Martin Territorial Cycling Committee (CCTSM), Gilbert Rousseau arrives with a clear vision. In Quartier d’Orléans, it is between spins of the wheels with his young recruits that this enthusiast outlines a new ambition: to make cycling accessible to all, and to put the island on the map far beyond its shores.
There is something undeniable about the way Gilbert Rousseau coaches young cyclists. A natural ease and familiarity that cannot be feigned. And with good reason: cycling is his whole life. It all began with his father, Albert Rousseau, who was himself president of the island’s cycling committee in his day. A natural passing on of the torch, which forged in him a deep attachment to the sport and to this region. Now president of the JCO club — the Jeunesse Cycliste d’Orléans — based in Quartier d’Orléans, he has also taken on the presidency of the CCTSM, with undiminished enthusiasm and a head full of ideas.
Inclusion and training
What drives Gilbert Rousseau above all else is coaching. Seeing a young person progress, understanding their strengths, spotting hidden talent: that is his goal. “Cycling has the potential to offer a passion, a career, a way to discover new places,” he says, his eyes fixed on his athletes warming up. This conviction now underpins his entire project at the helm of the CCTSM. The new presidency comes with a clear focus: investing in young people and opening the doors to female athletes, who have for too long been sidelined in local cycling. “We want to give all our athletes a chance, boys and girls alike,” he insists. This openness is also reflected in the expansion of the categories on offer. A key new focus has now been added for the youngest participants: skill games, designed to spark an interest in the sport from a very young age. Training camps, technical workshops, and trips to Guadeloupe or Martinique to expose young people to different levels of competition: the programme is ambitious, designed to uncover potential and nurture talent.
Joining forces
Gilbert Rousseau does not see cycling as a matter for isolated clubs. He thinks in terms of the collective, in terms of the region. One of the key projects, in his view, is the pooling of resources among clubs: coming together, rallying all the driving forces of local cycling to carry more weight on the regional and international stage. “I think that in the past, the Committee could have done better if it had listened more closely to the clubs. There was a lack of communication.” An analysis that clearly sets the course the new president intends to follow. In terms of numbers, the committee currently has around 200 registered members, a figure set to grow by the end of the year. And a major announcement is on the horizon before the end of May: the creation of a new club in Sandy Ground, spearheaded by former champions. The CCTSM will then comprise six clubs, further strengthening the island’s cycling community. In this spirit, the Opening Race, to be held this Sunday 15 March, features a programme designed to cater for all types of athletes. From 8am, young riders in the U7 to U13 categories will kick off the race, before the U15s and above set off at 3pm.
With routes ranging from one to 48 kilometres starting from Galisbay, it promises to be a wonderful day of sport and inclusion, reflecting a Saint-Martine cycling scene that is moving forward, united and determined.
