Venezuelan cycling is on track to reclaim the national colors at the upcoming Santo Domingo 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games. To achieve this, they will field a strong team that combines the freshness of new faces with the experience of established stars for the various cycling competitions, which begin on July 25.
A Perfect Combination
The national delegation is repeating the formula of combining stars with extensive international experience with young cyclists, a strategy they employed for the Bolivarian Games in Ayacucho and Lima 2025. This approach aims to solidify the strength the team has demonstrated in the series of events they have participated in this cycle.
The team will be led for track and road events by Lilibeth Chacón, four-time champion of the Tour of Colombia (2021, 2023, 2022, and 2026). Joining this formidable squad are Rio 2016 Olympian Hersony Canelón, Franklin Chacón, Jorge Abreu, and Clever Martínez.
Emerging Talent
Also joining the team as emerging talent are continental medalists and national record holder Michell Manzi; Carliany González, Mariángel Nieves, Verónica Abreu, Fabiana Candelas, Angy Luna, Yeniret Roa, and María Daza in the women’s division.
The men’s team includes Vladimiro Alvarado, Yorber Terán, Arlex Méndez, Alberto Torres, and Luis Pinto. BMX on the Rise
Meanwhile, in the BMX discipline, the task of dominating the Caribbean podium will fall to Jholman Sivira, champion at the 2024 South American BMX Championships in Peru and silver medalist at the 2023 Central American Games in San Salvador.
Regarding the historical record of track cycling in the last edition of these games in 2023, Venezuela accumulated three bronze medals in team events: Angie González and Verónica Abreu in the women’s Madison, and in the pursuit by Wilmarys Moreno, Angie González, Lilibeth Chacón, and Verónica Abreu in the women’s event, and Franklin Chacón, César Sanabria, Ángel Pulgar, and Edwin Torres in the men’s.
The Central American and Caribbean Games will take place from July 24 to August 8. Cycling events are scheduled for July 28-30 at the Juan Pablo Duarte Olympic Center Velodrome in Santo Domingo. BMX will be held on July 30 at the La Barranquita track in Santiago, and finally, road cycling events will take place on July 25 and August 1-2 along the Malecón in Santo Domingo.
Source: Ydanis Navas/Press Office of the Ministry of Sport