RORAIMA Bikers Club’s (RBC) Alanzo Greaves yesterday stamped his authority and sprinting prowess on an impressive field, to take the 22nd Annual R&R International sponsored 40 mile cycle road race, doing so in a time of 1h: 41m: 58secs.
A star studded field of local cyclists including defending champion Robin Persaud, Marlon ‘Fishy’ Williams, Geron Williams, Orville Hinds, 2012 National Time Trial champion Jude Bentley and 2012 Junior Sportsman of the Year Paul De Nobrega, were amongst the 44 starters for the event.
Also facing Joseph Britton who sent the cyclists on their way at precisely 09:00hrs were Dwayne Gibbs, Walter Grant-Stuart, Michael Anthony, Raul Leal, Warren ‘40’ Mc Kay, Akeem Arthur and the two females in Naomi Singh and Hazina Barrett.
The outcome of the event was decided as early as La Jalousie on the upward journey, when Greaves, the unrelated, Marlon Greaves, Geron Williams, Hinds, who is also the 2012 National Road Champion, Fernandes, De Nobrega and Bentley, made their move to the front.
They opened a lead of 75 metres on the chasing peloton, who seconds later was forced to watch the back wheel of the vast improving Jeffrey, who tried his valiant best to connect to the front runners, all to no avail.
Misfortune struck for Paul Choo-Wee-Nam, when he suffered a mechanical failure just as they approached Plantain Walk on the upward journey and together with Gibbs, called it a day as the chasing peloton which included Persaud, Grant-Stuart, Leal, Anthony, Arthur and Junior Niles just to name a few, were about to enter the village of Tuschen.
The front runners took their turn back orders from Racing Secretary of the Guyana Cycling Federation (GCF) Wayne De Abreu at Bushy Park, East Bank Essequibo and never let up on their lead, despite facing a strong head wind for the downward journey.
They lost the services of Fernandes, just before Leonora, but the cyclist dug deep within his reserves to pull a second wind and reconnect shortly after, while a cat and mouse tactic was employed as the flag was shown, signaling the sixth and final sprint prize, which was taken by Bentley, his second during the course.
In the sprint for home, Greaves showed that he is one of the better cyclists in this category, when he outsprinted Geron Williams to take the top spot, with Hinds, De Nobrega, Marlon Williams and Bentley rounding off the top six paying positions.
Fernandes finished seventh and with that placing copped the top podium finish for the Veteran’s category ahead of Raymond Newton and Ian ‘Dumb Boy’ Jackson in that order, while the top three positions in the junior category was claimed by Leal, Arthur and Anthony.
With Barrett enduring mechanical failures, Singh had no opposition for the top female prize, winning that with the greatest of ease as she was the final cyclist to cross the line approximately 25 minutes after Greaves, following which national cycling coach Hassan Mohammed conducted the prize giving ceremony.
The win by Greaves, further compounds RBC’s dominance on the local cycling scene so far this year, since their cyclists has copped nine wins in the 12 starts they have to date, with five seconds, including McKay, Greaves and Marlon Williams’ top three placing in a race the previous day in Berbice.
The cyclists will now turn their attention to this Sunday’s 16th Annual Cheddi Jagan Memorial cycle road race which is being organized by the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) and will be held in the Ancient County.
Cyclists desirous of competing in this event are asked to assemble in front of the National Sports Commission Middle Street office for 05:00hrs, for a prompt departure 30 minutes later, with the race pedaling off from the PPP/C Office in New Amsterdam at 09:00hrs sharp.
