GUYANA’S Romelo Crawford and Raynauth Jeffrey returned creditable performances in the just concluded United Cycling International (UCI) 1.2 Tour of Tobago cycling classic.According to information received, top junior cyclist Crawford won the Division two 20-lap Plymouth criterium race on Saturday in the Tobago Cycling Classic four-race series. The young Berbician won the race in an exciting sprint ahead of Junior Caribbean champion Tyler Cole and Nicholas Paul. There were 42 starters in the event.
Crawford placed 3rd in the second race of the series and is positioned nicely to take the Division two Overall crown, when the series concluded on Sunday with a 25-lap Market Square criteruim.
Jeffrey, on the other hand, placed an impressive fourth in a gruelling event also in Tobago but was disqualified for not following an unmarked section of the course towards the finish of the race.
According to reliable sources, the event which was won by Adderly Cruz Colon (Team Foundation) ahead of Darren Matthews (Team Coco’s) saw Jeffrey place an impressive fourth in the gruelling event after doing domestic duties for Team Coco’s during the entire race. However, race officials later disqualified Jeffrey for not following an unmarked section of the course towards the end of the race.
Reports received by Guyana Cycling News were that there were no officials on the course or any signs to direct the riders and this resulted in a number of riders being disqualified.
However, as the saying goes, `Every cloud has a silver lining’ and for Jeffrey, his silver lining was that he garnered the attention of quite a few international teams, whose managers and top riders personally congratulated him on his outstanding performance.
He can now take consolation in the fact that he has returned to top form and has showcased his ability to match pedals internationally with the best at a UCI-rated event. He has a strong case for a spot on the Guyana National Team that is due to compete at the Caribbean Cycling Championship 2015 in Barbados later this month.
Top Caribbean cyclist and Jeffrey’s teammate, Darren Matthews, has also personally endorsed Jeffrey’s campaign for a spot on the national team. A number of officials from other Caribbean nations were also enquiring about Jeffrey’s participation in the upcoming Caribbean Cycling Championship.
Jeffrey, Matthews and Hamza Eastman are scheduled to represent Team Coco’s tomorrow in the Beacon Night race in Trinidad.