Bermuda Athletes Showcase Grit at Caribbean Mountain Bike Championships

July 24 - 25, Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic

Bermuda’s top mountain bikers, Robin Horsfield and Gabriella Arnold, delivered determined efforts at the 2025 Caribbean Mountain Bike Championships, held July 24–25 at Complejo Deportivo La Barranquita.

Thursday, July 24 – Elite Men’s Cross-Country Short Circuit (XCC)In the fast‑paced XCC format, Georwill Pérez Román of Puerto Rico claimed gold in 20 minutes 02 seconds. Riding against a field of 12, Robin Horsfield finished a close 4th, crossing the line approximately 48 seconds behind the winner—demonstrating tactical prowess and speed on the short track.

Elite Women’s Short Circuit (XCC)Gabriella Arnold was riding strongly, sitting in second place, before suffering an unfortunate injury that forced her to abandon the race (DNF). She has since withdrawn from Friday’s XCO event. “We’re all wishing Gabby a speedy and full recovery,” said Peter Dunne, President of the Bermuda Bicycle Association.

Friday, July 25 – Elite Men’s Cross-Country Olympic (XCO)On the grueling Olympic-distance course, Pérez Román again topped the podium in 1 hour 20 minutes 59 seconds. Robin Horsfield delivered a strong performance to finish 8th, crossing the line approximately 10 minutes behind the winner—a commendable effort on a demanding terrain.

The Championships also served as a qualifier for the 2026 Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games, with the top six finishers in each Elite XCO event qualifying their country for a spot—limited to a maximum of two riders per gender per nation. Although Robin Horsfield placed 8th, he is still expected to secure a qualification spot for Bermuda. This is because the Dominican Republic, as host nation, automatically receives two entries. Since four Dominican riders finished in the top seven, only two of their results will count toward qualification, effectively moving Robin’s placing into a qualifying position.

Both athletes remain 2025 Bermuda National Mountain Bike Champions, and their performances highlight the island’s growth in off-road cycling, driven by community groups like Fattire Massive and overseen by the Bermuda Bicycle Association.

Despite setbacks and fierce regional competition, Robin and Gabriella demonstrated resilience, skill, and promise under challenging conditions.