The event which was staged on the Essequibo Coast for the second consecutive year attracted eight cyclists from the Cinderella County, but was lacking in real keen competition as several of the country’s leading cyclists are currently in Trinidad and Tobago competing in the West Indies versus the World Cycling Classic, an international event that attracts some of the world’s leading cyclists.

Defending champion of the Essequibo leg of the road race, Junior Niles, is one of the many Guyanese cyclists currently competing at the Cycling Classic in Trinidad. His time for the event last year was two hours 18 minutes 56 seconds.

This means that Persaud is the current record holder (2:16.36.25)

Persaud, who also won five of the eight prime prizes up for grabs finished the open category ahead of Tony Simone, Christopher Persaud, Walter Grant-Stuart – an amputee, Albert Philander and Sherwin Alves in that order.

Simone won two of the primes while Philander took the other.

The first junior to cross the finish line was Regan Gibbons while Kennard Lovell won the veteran category ahead of Linden Blackman and Virgil Jones respectively.

Garfield Lorrimer won the upright category. Second was Dexter Wilson and third was Shawn Frank.

Anthony Fariah was the first cyclist over the age of 60 years to cross the finish line.

The ladies’ category was won by Naomi Singh. Alonzo Fernandes and Cassandra Sulker were the first male and female riders from Essequibo to complete the course.

The event got under way at Supenaam and proceeded to Charity before returning to Anna Regina for the finish.

The presentation of prizes to the respective winners was done by the sponsors Suresh Jagmohan and Tamis Jagmohan of El Dorado Trading Limited as well as Presidential Adviser Navin Chandrapal and Chairman of Region Two, Ally Baksh.

The proceedings were chaired by Director of Sport Neil Kumar.