Senior Multimedia Reporter
The Trinidad and Tobago Cycling Federation (TTCF) has selected Teniel Campbell for the women’s Points Race at the 2026 TISSOT UCI Track World Championships scheduled for Shanghai, China, from October 14 to 18, reversing its earlier decision to select compatriot Alexi Costa-Ramirez.
In a letter dated October 2 sent by Attorney-at-Law Zelica Haynes-Soo Hon of the CPFL Law Firm on behalf of the T&TCF to Dr Emir Crowne of New City Chambers, on behalf of Alexi Ramirez-Costa, the T&TCF acknowledged that its initial selection was based on an incorrect understanding of how T&T’s places at the championships had been allocated.
The Racing Committee had first believed the places were secured through the nation’s ranking. It later determined that they were based on Campbell’s individual ranking.
The original selection, communicated on September 11, assigned Costa-Ramirez to the Elimination and Points Race events, while Campbell was selected for the Scratch Race and Omnium. The Points Race selection was subsequently challenged, and the Federation said it reviewed the matter before making a revised decision on October 1.
Citing clause TTCF.6.003(2) of its selection policy, the Committee said Campbell was the only eligible cyclist for the Points Race. Campbell has confirmed that she is willing and able to compete in the event.
The Federation also said Campbell declined to participate in the Elimination, leaving Costa-Ramirez selected for that event. It apologised to Costa-Ramirez for the inconvenience caused and wished her success.
The letter described the initial decision as erroneous and inconsistent with the Federation’s selection policy. It said the error was unintentional and arose from the way the allocation of places had been communicated. The TTCF reserved its rights should the matter proceed to arbitration or litigation.
The situation arose after TTCF president Rowena Williams requested an additional 24-hour period to consider a new proposal put forward by Campbell and her representatives at a virtual meeting on September 30, requesting to be allowed to compete in at least three events, rather than her initial demand to participate in all four.
Initially, the T&TCF had issued a letter to the Heatwave Cycling Club informing it that its cyclist Alexi Costa-Ramirez was selected to represent the country in the elimination and the points race, along with Campbell, who would compete in the omnium event, which is the lone Olympic qualifying event at the Championships, and the scratch race.
The omnium event comprises four separate races—a scratch race, an elimination, a tempo race, and a points race.
However, upon receiving a pre-action protocol letter from Campbell via her representatives, objecting to having to split the events half and half, all parties agreed to meet on Wednesday last to find a resolution.
Wednesday’s meeting consisted of Campbell and her attorney, Keith Scotland SC; racing committee chairman Gregory Dandrade; racing secretary Maria Lopez; assistant secretary Cheryl Leacock; Costa-Ramirez; her father and former national cyclist Guy Costa; and Williams, who is currently in Switzerland for a UCI meeting.
The TTCF then met virtually again a day later to consider Campbell’s new request.
Both riders earned qualifying berths from successful participation at the UCI Nations Cups. Costa-Ramirez accumulated the required points at the first Nations Cup leg in Perth, Australia, from March 6-8 to qualify for the World Championships.
No rider from T&T made it to the second leg in Hong Kong, China, from April 17 to 19, while Guardian Media Sport learned that Campbell was handed the opportunity by Costa-Ramirez to compete at the third and final event in Malaysia from April 24 to 26 to allow Campbell to accumulate individual World Championships qualification points.
However, with the issue now resolved, Campbell, who recently competed at the UCI 2026 Road World Championships in Montreal, Canada, from September 20 to 27, placing 25th in the individual time trial, and Costa-Ramirez will both still compete at the World Championships in China, with the former contesting three of the four events.
