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• T&T's Nicholas Paul secures silver, bronze in Round two of UCI Track Champions League

  Trinidad and Tobago’s ace cyclist Nicholas Paul delivered an impressive performance at the second leg of the UCI Track Champions League, securing a second-place finish in the men’s sprint final at the Omnisport Apeldoorn in the Netherlands on Friday.

  Paul’s journey to the final was marked by a brilliant semi-final victory, where he stunned then-sprint leader Australian Matthew Richardson, who had amassed 64 points.

  However, in the final, Paul faced Dutch Olympic champion Harrie Lavreysen, who was racing before his home crowd.

  Lavreysen delivered a dominant performance, taking control from start to finish to claim victory and ascend to the top of the leaderboard with 71 points, while Paul’s second-place finish boosted his overall tally to 58 points, maintaining his third position in the standings.

  Paul’s semi-final ride showcased his tactical acumen and explosive power. He caught his competitors off guard with an early move, creating a significant gap and maintaining his composure to secure a commanding win.

  Paul also earned a podium spot in the keirin event, finishing third behind winner Cristian Ortega of Colombia and Lavreysen, who settled for second in a thrilling final.

  This performance builds on Paul’s results from the first leg of the Champions League in France last week, where he finished third in the sprint and fifth in the keirin.

  The competition continues on Saturday for the third round, where Paul will aim to climb further up the leaderboard and improve his impressive form against the world’s best cyclists.

• T&T's Nicholas Paul sets sights on top spot after positive start in UCI Track Champions League

  Trinidad and Tobago’s cycling star Nicholas Paul is looking to capitalize on his promising start to the 2024 UCI Track Champions League as he heads into the second and third rounds in Apeldoorn, Netherlands, starting Friday.

  Paul showcased his sprinting prowess in the opening round held in Saint-Quentin-En-Yvelines, France, finishing third in the men’s sprint and fifth in the keirin.

  Competing against the world’s best, including Australian champion Matthew Richardson and Dutch world record holder Harrie Lavreysen, Paul has positioned himself third in the overall standings after round one—a foundation he’s eager to build on.

  “It’s a League with five rounds. Finishing third in the overall standings after the first round is definitely a great start where I can build from. I am very comfortable going into the second and third rounds. My goal is to keep putting out better performances every round, one round at a time,” Paul told SportsMax.TV.

  

  The 26-year-old’s third-place finish in the sprint event came against fierce competition as Richardson took top honours, while Lavreysen, the reigning Olympic champion and flying 200m world record holder had to settle for second.

  Paul’s tactical sharpness and raw speed ensured he stayed in the mix, ahead of the likes of Colombia’s Cristian Ortega and Richardson’s compatriot Leigh Hoffman.

  In the keirin, Paul faced another tough field, securing fifth place behind Richardson, Lavreysen, Colombia’s Kevin Quintero, and Ortega.

  That race demonstrated the unpredictable nature of keirin cycling, but Paul remains determined to refine his tactics as the League progresses. In fact, beyond the individual prestige that improved performances bring in his career, the soft-spoken cyclist views it as an opportunity to showcase the quality and talent that Trinidad and Tobago is known for on the world stage.

  “Racing doesn’t always go as planned. However, looking forward, there are a few areas I will pay more attention to tactically as I go through each round because my overall ambition is always to put my best foot forward, striving to get in the top spot for my country,” he noted.

  Paul now turns his attention to the velodrome in Apeldoorn, Netherlands, where rounds two and three will be held on consecutive days. The League format remains consistent, with sprinters like Paul competing in the sprint and keirin events, accumulating points across all five rounds.

  

  The UCI Track Champions League features 72 elite riders—18 in each category (men’s and women’s sprint and endurance)—vying for points to determine the champions. With one round completed in France, rounds two and three will unfold in Apeldoorn, while London is set to host rounds four and five, ensuring high-stakes racing at every stage.

  For Paul, who has won numerous medals at the World Championships, Pan American Championships, Pan American Games and Commonwealth Games, this season represents a chance to further cement his status as one of the sport’s brightest stars.

  “I am pleased with all I have been able to accomplish so far, but there are always more targets to aim at and more goals to achieve. So it’s all a work in progress, my plan is to build on this performance and to do so, I intend to keep putting in those hard hours to keep getting stronger and faster,” the two-time Olympian stated.

• Julien 'The Black Dragon' Baptiste eyes bigger stage after defending Massachusetts middleweight title

  Julien “Black Dragon” Baptiste, the reigning Massachusetts Middleweight boxing champion, successfully defended his title last Saturday, November 9, with a sixth-round TKO victory over Anthony Hines at Fall Reckoning in Dorchester. The main event saw Baptiste overwhelm his opponent with a flurry of punches, prompting the referee to stop the bout at 2:35 of the penultimate round.

  With the victory, Baptiste improved his professional record to 8-4-1, cementing his place as a dominant force in the Massachusetts boxing scene. Reflecting on the win, he expressed gratitude and acknowledged the hard work that went into his preparation.

  “And STILL!!!!” Baptiste exclaimed. “I would like to thank God ?? for another opportunity for me to showcase my skills and talents. Training camp was on point from beginning to end. Mark DeLuca made sure that I got 1% better each day. Was it easy? Hell no ?, but if you want to stay champion, you’re gonna have to be uncomfortable until you get comfortable to get the job done.”

  The fight marked another milestone in Baptiste’s journey, one that began in his youth as the son of Jamaican and Grenadian parents. His mother, Donna Holder Willemsen, hails from Duncans in Trelawny, Jamaica, while his father, Egbert Baptiste, who is battling cancer, is from Grenada. Julien credits both of them for his drive and determination.

  “Their strength and spirit, along with my mother’s, drive me to success,” he said.

  Baptiste’s introduction to boxing came after his college football career as an All-American free safety. While pursuing his NFL dreams, he was invited to a boxing gym by a cousin from Jamaica, and from that moment, he found a new passion.

   “I fell in love with it,” he recalled. “I was there every day. That was in New York. Then I left New York and came to Massachusetts, back to the town I went to school at, looking for work. The first gym I worked at just happened to have a boxing gym and a coach. And here I am now as Massachusetts champion.”

  

   In 2023, Baptiste captured the vacant United States Boxing Federation (USBF) Middleweight title, which he has successfully defended three times. His Massachusetts title has also been defended on three occasions, adding to his growing legacy.

   “I know what is at stake every time I fight because my belts are on the line every time I fight. Whenever I fight here in Massachusetts, both my belts are on the line,” he said.

   Now 35, Baptiste acknowledges that time is not on his side in the sport, but he remains focused on his ultimate goals.

   “I’m coming to the end of my athletic career. I just want to get on ESPN,” he said. “I fought on ESPN earlier this year at Madison Square Garden in February and lost by split decision. I want to get back on that stage, so hopefully by next year, I should be back on a bigger stage on television or something of that nature.”

   Beyond boxing, Baptiste’s aspirations include securing a home and retiring from the sport with his health intact.

   “I want to leave the game with my mind and my brains, my health. I want to be one of the ones leaving with my health. I want to help the youth and show that there are ways to get out of situations to better yourself,” he said.

   With his dedication, resilience, and a drive rooted in his Caribbean heritage, Julien Baptiste continues to embody the spirit of a champion both inside and outside the ring.