40-miler cycle road race
CONTINENTAL Cycle Club’s cyclist Geron Williams won the R&R International Limited sponsored 40-Mile Cycle Road Race organised by national cycle coach Hassan Mohammed.
The event which got underway from the Demerara Harbour Bridge on the West Coast of Demerara and proceeded to Bushy Park, East Bank Essequibo, attracted 35 starters in three categories.
Williams, the National Sports Commission’s junior Sportsman of the Year returned one hour 44 minutes 53 seconds.
Of the six prime prizes that were up for grabs, Williams won one while fourth place finisher Raymond Newton won three and third place finisher Albert Philander two. Marlon `Fishy’ Williams finished second, Daniel Ramchurjee fifth and Alex Mendes sixth.
The junior category was won by Berbician Neil Reece while Paul DeNobrega was second.
In the veteran’s category, Newton who finished fourth overall was declared winner of this division while Linden Blackman placed second.
When the 35 competitors were sent on their way, Philander immediately attacked the pack but was pursued by Geron Williams who connected and a host of other riders followed and connected before Vreed-en-Hoop.
The bunch stuck together until Den Amstel when the top six finishers staged another attack led by Marlon Williams and Shaka Whyte and the others responded.
For the remainder of the race the top six finishers along with Whyte stuck together for the upward journey, but on the downward trek, Whyte was dropped and the top six finishers approached the finish line together.
With approximately 400 metres to the finish line, Ramchurjee started the sprint but was pursued by Geron Williams who went on the outside and overtook him (Ramchurjee) and won by a wheel.
Meanwhile, cycle action will continue next Sunday with the National Sports Commission’s sponsored 40-mile road race on the West Demerara, organised by national cycle coach Hassan Mohamed who will also be organising three road races next month in memory of PPP leader Dr. Cheddie Jagan.
The first event is slated for Berbice on March 5, while the other two are billed for West Demerara on March 21 and Essequibo on March 28.