… Pollydore wins second stage
HAVING out-sprinted his opponents to take the first stage with a time of 1:38.39 secs, Miami-based Cuban cyclist Antonio Quintero did enough to stay with the main peloton to remain as the overall leader after two stages of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport (MCYS) in collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Guyana Cycling Federation (GCF)-organised ‘Ride for Life 4’. A total of 57 cyclists faced Director of Sport within the National Sports Commission, Neil Kumar, for the first stage yesterday morning which pedalled off from the Corriverton Police Station and proceeded to New Amsterdam, where only 54 crossed the finish line.
Quintero was the first to do so in a time of 1:38.29 secs, along with Eric Sankar, Marlon ‘Fishy’ Williams, Neil Reece Jr, Tony Simon and Walter Grant-Stuart in that order, with Godfrey Pollydore, Dwayne Gibbs, Alonso Greaves and defending champion Geron Williams completing the course 2mins 41 secs behind the front runners in the first peloton.
Pollydore came back to take the second stage in a close sprint from Warren McKay, Greaves and Gerald Yates in that order, but what was more important for the Miami-based Team Coco’s, Quintero was still the overall leader heading into today’s third stage.
Apart from Junior Niles’ premature move to the front of the peloton in the first stage, no other cyclists, among whom were Robin Persaud, Albert Philander, Aubrey Gordon and Ian ‘Dumb Boy’ Jackson, made any moves of their own.
As the peloton approached the Number 58 Village in Corriverton, Marlon Williams, along with Greaves and defending champion Geron Williams who competed in the recently concluded Commonwealth Games in India, made his move to the front where he was joined by Quintero and Simon.
Shortly after, Grant-Stuart, Reece and Sankar joined the frontrunners and the lead was increased from approximately 75 metres to 275 and the eventual time of 2.41s.
As was the scenario in the first stage, Niles made a move to the front but it was a short-lived one as Team Coco’s who withstood the presence of their Guyanese and Trinidad and Tobago competitors throughout the 60.4 miles journey, led the chasing peloton.
It did not matter who broke away, they were content to stay at the front of the pack and lead the chase to reconnect with the respective frontrunners, a perfect example of team work in a precarious situation, as they sought to protect Quintero’s lead.
Young Ricky Kissoon went on a solo effort after Team Coco’s had done enough to connect with Niles and at the same time keep the peloton in check as they approached the Fort Wellington Secondary School, before Kissoon surprised all and sundry and made his move to the front where he enjoyed a lead of 150 metres over the peloton.
As they approached the Abary Bridge, a tired-looking Kissoon was caught by the peloton which was once again led by Team Coco’s, before Geron Williams and Enzo Matthews made a move of their own at Fairfield, Mahaicony, enjoying a lead of 250 metres over the opposition.
Whether they knew of their competitors’ strength or not, Team Coco’s appeared cool and calm as they led the chasing peloton who reconnected as they approached the Mahaica Bridge, from which point Niles, Gibbs and Robin Persaud surged to front.
The trio stayed at the front before they were caught at the Mon Repos Market area, at which point the y stayed together like a pack of wolves until 200 metres to the finish line when Pollydore, McKay, Greaves and Yates moved to the front.
Pollydore gave the small but appreciative crowd on hand a trip down memory lane when he out-sprinted McKay to take the stage in a time of 2:24.02 seconds, ahead of McKay, Greaves and Newton in that order.
Both Pollydore and Quintero have earned for themselves $10 000 for their stage wins with Sankar and Marlon Williams pocketing $6 000 and $4 000 and McKay and Greaves the respective amounts for their second and third place finish in the first and second stage.
The third stage will be contested this morning from the Wales Police Station and will proceed to Bushy Park, Parika, for the finish, covering a distance of 35 miles, before the remaining cyclists journey over to Essequibo to contest the fourth stage tomorrow morning, with today’s action pedalling off at 09:00 h.
According to reports received, the first six finishers in the first stage still hold that position, but this will be confirmed in tomorrow’s report on today’s fourth stage.