By Faizool Deo

NATIONAL cyclist Briton John registered a comprehensive victory in the feature race of the second annual Banks DIH’s Rainforest Waters Cycling competition, which was staged yesterday at the inner circuit of the National Park.

The 19-year-old, who represented Guyana at the Pan American U-23 Elite Road Cycling Championships, which was held in Mexico late April to early May this year, took control of the 35-lap School Boys and Invitational race from lap two.

The East Coast rider said he looked to test the field early and realised that he could have stayed in control.

“I’ve been putting in a lot of work … it was an easy win for me.”

Eventual second-place finisher Christopher Cornelius and third-place Deeraj Gharbaran stayed close, towards the latter stage of the race, but when the time came to break free, John did.

The teenager, who won Bartica’s first-ever cycling road race in March 2019, was high in praise for his We Stand United teammate Gharbaran for helping him before he made his final push.

The 21-year-old Gharbaran finished with a whopping five sprint prizes, while John copped three.

Alex Mendes finished fourth, while Adelie Hodge rounded off the top five.

A number of races were carded for the day, including the Juveniles’ 10 laps, which was won by Sherwin Sampson.  The 14-year-old, who finished ahead of Mark Lewis, copped two sprint prizes.

Junior Niles won the Veterans Under-50 five-lap race. He finished ahead of Lear Nunes and Kwame Ridley respectively, while Eon Jackson won the Veterans Over-50 five-lap event, with Andrew Spencer finishing second and Kennard Lovell third.

In the pre-teen divisions, Jose Rodrigues finished ahead of Lennox Jackman and William Greene in the BMX Boys 6-9 year-old two-lap race, while Jason Ryan Primo copped the top prize in the 9-12 age group category of the same race.

The event was also sponsored under the Triskits Crackers and Midwest Cookies brands.