Anthony could repeat 2014 performance in 13th annual Victor Macedo 70-miler

TEAM Gillette Evolution’s Michael Anthony could repeat his 2014 winning performance when the 13th edition of the highly anticipated event wheels off on Sunday and will be contested from Georgetown to Long Creek on the Soesdyke/Linden Highway and back to Georgetown for the finish.Last year, Anthony rode a tactical race to win the event ahead of Guyana’s `crème-de-la- creme cyclists’, returning a winning time of three hours 14 minutes 19 seconds and with his current form and the help of his Team Gillette Evolution team mates – Akeem Wilkinson, Orville Hinds, Raul Leal and Stephen Fernandes – there is no reason why he cannot make a successful defence of his title.
That apart, Anthony, Hinds and Wilkinson reside in the mining community of Linden and use the Linden Highway as his training ground, so too do Hinds and Wilkinson. The three are more familiar with the hilly terrain than most of the other cyclists that are expected to face the starter on Sunday.
Another plus for Anthony is the fact that most of Guyana’s other top pedal-pushers are training and competing on the U.S. circuit and might not return home for the event.
Even if they (U.S.-based riders) do return, they might not get acclimatised in time for Sunday.
Some of the cyclists currently in the U.S. are: Geron Williams, Hamza Eastman and Raynauth Jeffrey. Among those here who are preparing for the event are Paul DeNobrega, Jamaul John, Raphael Leung, Robin Persaud, Junior Niles and Alonzo Ambrose.
By virtue of winning the event last year, Anthony, who was then a junior rider, also received the first-place prize in the junior category. So come Sunday, Anthony will be the one that the radar will be on.
There will be a roll start from Macedo’s residence, Peter Rose Street, Queenstown at 06:30hrs and the participants will get the green flag on Homestretch Avenue.
Thereafter, they will journey east and turn right when they reach Mandela Avenue, turn onto the East Bank public road to the Soesdyke/Linden/and unto the highway heading for the turn-back point at Long Creek. From there they will return to Georgetown to finish on Homestretch Avenue.
Last year, Eastman placed second, DeNobrega was third, Robin Persaud fourth, Alonzo Ambrose fifth and Raphael Leung occupied the sixth position.
Ambrose and Travis Jeffrey placed second and third respectively, in the junior category.
The veteran category was won by Eion `Dumb Boy’ Jackson who finished ahead of Evral Mundraye and junior Niles respectively.
Keon Thomas was the first mountain biker to cross the finish line. Julio Melville was second and Deoraj Garbaran third.
The juveniles’ category was won by Raphael Leung. Second was Romelo Crawford and third was Jamaul John.

By Michael DaSilva

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