VETERAN cyclist Robin Persaud yesterday morning out-pedalled the field to win the final stage and overall title in this year’s National Sports Commission/National AIDS Programme Secretariat’s Eighth Annual `Ride for Life’ Five-Stage Cycle Road Race.

Persaud, who clocked 10 hours 26 minutes for the event in which the cyclists battled for supremacy over 266 miles in four days, won yesterday’s final stage (Kara Kara Linden to Homestretch Avenue) in a time of two hours 42 minutes .04 seconds.
Earlier in the five-stage event, Persaud was always among the leaders, placing sixth in the first stage (Corriverton to New Amsterdam, Berbice), eighth in the second stage (Rosignol to Carifesta Avenue) fourth in stage three (Wales, West Bank Demerara to Bushy Park, East Bank Essequibo) and third in stage four (Supenaam, Essequibo to Charity and back to Suddie).
The veteran rider who has represented Guyana on a number of occasions also wheeled off with the veteran prize ahead of fellow national cyclist Paul Cho-Wee-Nam and Horace Burrowes respectively, with Michael Anthony copping the junior category ahead of Alexander Leung and Alonzo Ambrose.
Alanzo Greaves placed second overall with a time of 10 hours 26 minutes 15 seconds while Geron Williams finished third with a time of 10 hours, 26 minutes 22 seconds.
The other top seven positions were occupied by Marlon `Fishy’ Williams (10:26.36), Paul DeNobrega (10:29.00), Scott Savory (10:29.39), Michael Anthony (10:30.19), Cho-Wee-Nam (10:31.40, Shaquille Agard (10:37.40) and Ray Millington (10:39.38).
From the start of yesterday’s final stage, the 27 cyclists stuck together for approximately 10 minutes before Geron Williams and Greaves upped the tempo and rode through the Linden/Soesdyke Highway unchallenged.
It was not until the duo reached Garden of Eden that they were wheeled in by the chasing pack, compliments of Marlon Williams who high-paced the bunch.
Shortly after Greaves and Geron – who went into the final stage in the top two positions overall – attacked the pack once more and opened a gap which was breached by the bunch, thanks once again to the efforts of the hard-working Marlon Williams.
As they turned onto Mandela Avenue from the Ruimveldt Industrial Site the pace of the race increased but Geron Williams’ chain jumped off the sprocket and he took some time to replace it thanks to the help he received from Marlon Williams who kept pushing him physically until he solved his problem.
By this time, Persaud jumped the pack approaching the South Ruimveldt Shopping Plaza Bridge and no one tried to get back to him, allowing him to win comfortably.
Of the 20 prime prizes that were on offer during the five stages of the event, Marlon Williams won nine, Greaves five, Geron Williams four and Ambrose and Orville Hinds one each.
Overall, the five-stage event was very competitive and the performances of the juniors and juveniles, especially Leung who rode under the Team United banner and Andrew Hicks of the Trojan Cycle Club of Berbice were very impressive.
The presentation of prizes to the respective winners was done at the end of the event at the National Cultural Centre, following brief remarks from Minister of Sport Dr Frank Anthony, Director of Sport Neil Kumar and other well-wishers.

(By Michael DaSilva)