MICHAEL Anthony impressed on the roads of West Demerara yesterday to sprint off with top honours in the 11th Regan Rodrigues Memorial 50-mile event.The Team Gillette Evolution rider got the best of Team Coco’s Jamal John in a thrilling two-man sprint to the finish to end Robin Persaud’s winning streak of the event. Prior to this edition, Persaud had won the annual road race on three consecutive occasions.
Akeem Wilkinson (Team Gillette Evolution) joined his teammate and John on the podium while Stephano Husbands (Team Coco’s), Alonzo Ambrose (Team Alanis) and Kravitz Jeffrey (United Bike Shop) completed the top six paid positions.
Besides the winner’s trophy, Anthony bagged half of the eight sprint prizes along the route which he completed in a brisk one hour 56 minutes 34 seconds, some 16 seconds better than Persaud’s winning time last year.
John claimed the remaining sprint prizes to register a two-man domination of the 40-odd competitors.
The race, which rolled off at Wales, proceeded to Bushy Park and returned to Schoon Ord for the finish was over at Vreed-en-Hoop on the upward journey.
Following the event, members of the late Rodrigues’ family, along with staff members of Ricks and Sari Agro Industries, assisted in the presentation of prizes and food hampers.