Nicole Mitchell said that her bronze medal win at the Elite Caribbean Cycling Championships means even more to her, considering the level of competition is getting tougher each year.

Mitchell finished third in the women’s road race in Martinique at the weekend to continue her medal-winning streak, having reached the podium in each of her four previous appearances at the championships.

She also secured Bermuda a place in the 2018 Central American and Caribbean Games, to be held in Barranquilla, Colombia, next August.

“I’m pleased with my performance,” said Mitchell, who represented Bermuda at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

“My main goal was to achieve a qualifying spot for the CAC Games and I accomplished that. I’m happy to keep my medal-winning streak alive, but the level of competition is definitely increasing, making it harder to medal each year.

“There are several strong riders from Trinidad, Curaçao and Puerto Rico that have moved up to the Elite category from the Junior category. It’s great to see more women and the level of racing increasing.”

Mitchell added: “The road race was tough given there were several countries that only had one rider. No one was letting riders break away, which resulted in a bunch sprint at the finish.

“Conditions were hot, humid and windy. It’s tough to adjust to when Bermuda has cooled off and we fly in and out so close to the competition.”

Mitchell’s other medal wins at the championships were bronze in both the time-trial and road race in Guadeloupe in 2010, silver in the time-trial and another bronze in the road race in 2012 in Antigua, as well as bronze in both the time-trial and road race a year later in Curaçao.

So what is her formula to success?

“Having come to several championships, I know who the stronger riders are to watch during the race,” said Mitchell, who came eighth in the women’s individual time-trial in Martinique.

“As the field is increasing and strengthening you definitely have to ride a smarter race.”

Also competing in Martinique was Dominique Mayho, who finished eleventh in the men’s time-trial, but had to abandon the road race after struggling to stay in the top half of the field.

The championships signalled the end of Mayho and Mitchell’s international racing seasons.

Bermuda’s juniors head to Barbados for the Junior Caribbean Cycling Championships on November 4 and 5.