Written by 09:29 Pro Cycling Story

Teniel Campbell: I want to be legendary

“Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude.” – Thomas Jefferson.

Getting to Martinique was a challenge. It was very chaotic as flight tickets were purchased less than 12 hours before the departure time. Mr Desmond, Kevin Tinto the mechanic and I were up at midnight packing bikes with only a couple hours before departing. In the airplane before taking off, Mr Desmond showed me two fingers. I was very confused. Then I figured it out. The two fingers were his indication that I was going to win 2 gold medals. 

Mr Desmond was the president of my local cycling club and funded the trip. He’s a great guy and passionate about cycling. He believed I could “shut the individuals who second-guessed my talent with my legs.” I despise when people think I’m not capable of doing something, so I had them in the back of my head as well.

So here we were, rushing off to the 2017 Elite Caribbean road cycling champions. I was ready to show myself.

The road race was the following day after my arrival and my greatest concern was cramping as I had solid memories from cramping in the road race the previous year in Guadeloupe.

My fears came true. I wasn’t feeling great for almost the entire race. During the final lap, I felt my legs giving out. The cramp was approaching.

However, I never showed weakness to my competitors.

I saw the 2km to go mark and I remember going straight into beast mode. Forget the cramps, I was in the zone. I was fearless and my body and mind made a connection that I’ve never felt before.

I was calm, collected and did exactly what my mind told me to do and what my legs were capable of. I took the corner in front and it was full gas to the finish line. The cramp came back after crossing the finish line – first. It didn’t matter. I was the Caribbean road champion.

The following day was the time trial. I didn’t know I would win by 2 minutes and 3 seconds. It was also the first time in years that someone had won the double gold at the Caribbean Championships, so I was extremely happy.

I was told that some people did not believe in my potential and capabilities. I broke down crying uncontrollably on television because this was the event that opened big doors for me and that’s when I realized how deep and emotional I was about that victory in Martinque at the Caribbean Championships.

Mr Desmond took the initiative to stimulate a conversation with the UCI president, Mr. David Lappartient and I believe this together with my strong performance got me my training invitation to the UCI headquarters to join the World Cycling Centre. It was time to LEVEL UP.

This was a big moment, not only for me, but for my family.

I grew up in the countryside of Trinidad and Tobago. I was raised by a village. My father is a cyclist. My brother is a really good racer in the States but he hasn’t had the opportunities that I was now getting. My mother was a real good athlete in her day and could almost do anything.

Growing up in the countryside meant we played outside a lot. I didn’t even know about the internet until I moved to the city. We’d go into the bush and jump into the rivers, that was our entertainment.

When the street lights turned on, you better be home otherwise there’d be big problems.

At home, the dominant sports are cricket, soccer and track and field but it was normal for us to ride bikes at a young age.

Cycling is on the rise but we don’t have the ability to get the kind of sponsorship like the bigger nations in Europe. I’m hoping that will change as prospective sponsors see the potential and support our federations in nurturing the talent that is there.

We get a lot of medals at the Pan American and Caribbean championships at a junior level but there is nothing in place for the transformation from junior to elite. Cycling is an expensive sport and most parents can’t support their kids in the sport.

Aunts and uncles did everything they could to support me. They’ve thrown BBQ’s to raise money for my brother and I to get equipment or attend events. Like I said, I was raised by a village so I knew the opportunity I was getting with the UCI wasn’t mine alone.  

I went to Switzerland with a purpose. I gotta give back to them and everything they’ve helped me achieve.

I was extremely excited to attend the World Cycling Centre in Switzerland, but this new beginning was not an easy transition. In one moment, I was enjoying my first experience of travelling halfway across the world then in the next I’d be crying uncontrollably, ready to go home.

Europe was a new experience for a kid from the Caribbean. I felt completely lost and confused. I was getting dropped on the climbs, suffering on the flat with frozen body parts. Within my first week I had to walk home in the freezing cold snow because my chain got busted. The next day I had a flat tire.

I was still nervous and uncomfortable in this new environment, so I was scared to approach people for help. I didn’t want to bother anyone. I had to suck it up.

The hardest part for me was coming to terms with not winning. Back home I was used to slaying. I was the champion on home soil. Here, I was getting dropped – just a stray in the peloton trying to survive.

There were times when I was given leadership opportunities for the small races but cracked under pressure. I cried a lot on those days and it really bothered me. I remembered one race in Belgium, I just broke down in front of everyone and couldn’t stop crying, it felt as though everyone hated me because I didn’t deliver after all their hard work.

There were also times when Thi That who was the main sprinter of the team would not be feeling good mid-race and I would automatically become the team leader. You would think I’d grab the opportunity but instead I would go from enjoying the race to suddenly having pain in my legs and not feeling too well either.

But I wasn’t going to give up any time soon.

Me and Mr Desmond

The transition to Europe was hard but this is bigger than me. My dad and brother both dreamt of being professional cyclists. The financial aspect stopped my dad because we’re not rich. My brothers’ opportunities didn’t go as smoothly as mine. He had people holding him back and not giving him the opportunities they promised. He got his hopes up and it didn’t work out for him. I’m living their dream as well as mine so I know I have to be really good.

Halfway through the year in June 2018, I got two top ten’s in a row in UCI races in Belgium. This became a turning point for me. The team really motivated me and encouraged me.

They made me feel unstoppable.

I started seeing a completely different side of myself after that. After Belgium, I went to race the Central America and Caribbean Games in Colombia. I was extremely focused and would find myself muting all the noise around me and just focusing on the task at hand.

There were moments when my teammates or staff would be talking to me but as soon as I pinned my number on, please don’t talk to me. I can’t hear you. All the noise was on mute and I was in my own world. I would just stare at them and nod my head out of respect, but I was only thinking about the task ahead.

I just wanted to win so badly.

Each event in Colombia was an opportunity to win a gold medal, that’s how I saw it.

Before leaving the Centre in Switzerland, I boldly told Belinda Tarling, Head of Performance and Education that I was coming back with 3 gold medals and medaling in every event that I entered. My confidence was high, I believed in myself and I was just ready to go hard and get what I came here for.

However, I kept getting bronze medals and this was becoming mentally frustrating for me.

I was creating history for my country but attaining those bronze medals just did not feel right for me. I was not happy and you could see it on my face when I was on the podium.

I ended my period on the track with 3 bronze medals in the omnium, scratch race and individual pursuit. 

My final opportunity to win a gold was in the road race. I remembered waking up that morning fatigued and with tight glutes but super happy and social. I told myself I’m just going to have fun and whatever happens, happens, but obviously there’s the voice that’s saying, I want to win.

Before the start, my local coach Elisha Greene and I stood around the one-kilometer mark and we were looking at the best line to take for the sprint. As the race was unfolding, there was a break with maybe 6 riders. They had a 2-minute gap but the Cubans chased them down and we caught them with 3 kilometres to go. 

I remember the fight for position, it was really aggressive. At one moment I found myself too far back with 1.5km to go but there was a corner approaching and I took a risk and made up some positions.

That risk boosted me directly next to Arlenis Sierra and Lizbeth Yareli Salazar, two of the most talented sprinters in the group.

Arlenis looked me in the eye and I looked directly at her and all of a sudden I decided to pounce. It was 500m to go and too far from the finish. I caught everyone off guard. I bowed my head and just kept going.

Around 100m to go I looked up and saw the finish and I was like “Holy smokes am I really wining???” –  but at the same moment I saw a shadow approaching and I was like “NO NO NO NO NO!!!” 

I made it to the finish! I was ecstatic, I had to hold back my tears on the podium while my anthem played.

I arrived back to the UCI school to more good news. The Coegras Mettler team had invited me to do the Ladies Tour of Norway with them as a trainee – or stagiaire as they say in France. I always dreamt of riding in the World Tour so of course I was elated.

But I was not prepared for how hard it would be.

I did not appreciate getting dropped and suffering so easily. However, that only made me hungrier. It motivated me so much that I messaged my trainer Alejandro and told him when I get back, I want him to push me beyond my limits. I want to be stronger the next time I raced against these girls who were the best in the world.

Marianne Vos and Annemiek van Vleuten were there. I was trying not to be a fan girl but Annemiek was so great and started talking to me. She said she saw a strong fighting spirit in me and some good bike handling skills. She topped it off by commenting on my Instagram post with some advice. “Playing hero in the beginning will make you a stronger rider in the end, instead of playing it safe in the bunch,” she said.

So, I guess I’m going to continue wearing my cape.

Little did I know I caught the attention of some of the other riders. I guess it was because I was not the typical type you would see in a pro women peloton. 

Black, tall girl with confidence.

I overheard riders saying that I only caught Annemiek’s attention because I was different and easy to be seen.

Now I gotta show them how different I am, I thought.

So I made it a priority to return to Europe this year and stamp my name and earn some respect. I hope I can inspire and give people hope with the access and opportunities I have.

I have very clear and defined goals.

Being a member of the World Cycling Centre at the UCI has given me an amazing platform to race my bike. I hope to break barriers so it can be easier for others and get more people to try the sport.

If I qualify for the Olympic Games in Tokyo next year, I would be the first female cyclist from Trinidad and Tobago to go to the Olympics. I know the other Caribbean nations are watching and hoping I can be the one to really inspire the rest of the riders back home because they all know me since the junior Caribbean Championship days. I have great support, and everyone wants me to achieve this. 

I want to be legendary in the sport.

That’s what I am working towards.

It’s going to take a lot and even when the road gets hard, I have to keep pushing through and have a strong mind and know with the support from friends and relatives, my village, I’ll be ok.

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Tags: , Last modified: Jan 19, 2020
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