WALTER Grant-Stuart, Guyanese national and Team Coco’s cyclist, was the runaway winner of the 2011 John T Memorial Cycle Race in Anguilla.
The John T Memorial Cycle Race, widely regarded as one of the premier cycling competitions in the region, attracted competitors from St Vincent, Antigua, Nevis, St Kitts, Guyana, St Maarten, Guadeloupe, Guyana and Anguilla, as well as newcomers Suriname, Santo Domingo, and Aruba.
This year’s route began in the Valley, before heading east to Sandy Hill roundabout and continuing to the West End. It then looped through Sandy Ground before returning to the east and climaxing at its return to the Valley. This event and treacherous course challenged the best cyclist in the region.
Team Coco’s Walter Grant-Stuart, a competitor who possesses only one arm, dominated the field, winning the challenging 104-mile course in 3:42.12. He broke away from the main pack along with fellow cyclist Franci Pangan of St Maarten, with 30 kilometres to go.
After slowly but steadily increasing their advantage against the field, Grant-Stuart launched a vicious attack with 10 kilometres to go, which shredded his struggling counterpart and left the victory a foregone conclusion. He sprinted into the Valley alone and teeming with pride and confidence, winning the biggest race of his cycling career.
His victory stunned the many spectators in attendance, leaving them in awe and inspired, that a one-armed cyclist could not only ride so well on a challenging course, but also defeat a field of so many top Caribbean and able-bodied cyclists.