FOLLOWING several altercations between one of their leading cyclists Alonzo Greaves and Carlton Wheelers Cycle Club’s Robin Persaud, Roraima Bikers Club (RBC) have pulled out of next week’s fifth annual five stage cycle road race and the Caribbean Cycling Championships to be held in Antigua later this month. According to a letter – one of three – sent to the Secretary of the Guyana Cycling Federation (GCF), the hierarchy of RBC came up with the decision, following an impromptu meeting among its club members and officials last Monday, after last Sunday’s Banks Malta 50 miles event.
At that event, the 24-year-old Greaves and Persaud were locked in an intense sprint battle for the top position and approximately 40 metres from the finish line, Persaud took his right hand off his handlebar then pushed Greaves out of the way and subsequently to the top podium finish.
Pandemonium broke out at the finish line, as many individuals and cyclists called on the race officials to discipline Persaud, who they said breached the rules of the sport when he took his hand off his handlebar during the sprint.
With such a cry falling on deaf ears and Persaud being awarded the top spot ahead of Greaves, RBC, headed by Brian Allen, decided to take drastic actions, as they fear for the safety of their cyclists in both events mentioned above, of which Greaves is a part of Team Guyana.
An excerpt from the letter reads: “This is not the first incident of attack on Alonzo Greaves by Robin Persaud, and although our club has sent two correspondence to the Federation requesting an investigation, the Federation has done nothing to resolve this matter, and did not even have the courtesy of responding or acknowledging our correspondence.
“It seems that the Federation is reluctant to act, and prefers to adopt a laid-back attitude and hope that matters of this nature would just disappear.
“It is our hope that the Federation takes some time to investigate and address Mr Persaud’s history of violent and abusive behaviour towards cyclists and officials. This will prevent such a situation from turning into tragedy one day.
“This type of behaviour is leading the sport of cycling into disrepute, and sets a bad example to our young cyclists, who will adopt the attitude of taking matters into their own hands, since this seems to be the accepted norm.
“We strongly believe that if the Federation does not get its act together, and stamp out this wanton spate of lawlessness that is being perpetrated by members and officials of the Carlton Wheelers Cycle Club, there will be drastic consequences, which can result in persons being gravely or fatally injured.”
In a telephone interview with Allen, the RBC head said the GCF needs to stamp out insularity and favouritism to certain cyclists, citing several reasons behind such a statement.
“There was a race being held around the inner circuit of the National Park earlier this year, when Robin forced Alonzo off the road as they made the final turn for the finish line and when Alonzo did the right thing by filing a complaint, he was not given any satisfaction.
In fact, race organiser Hassan Mohamed told Alonzo that the man who is sprinting in front does not have eyes behind him, so he is not responsible for what goes on behind him. when in reality, Alonzo was alongside Robin, who forced him off the track during the sprint,” said Allen.
While he admitted he was not present to witness last Sunday’s episode, Allen said from all accounts, his cyclist (Greaves) was holding a line following a sprint that was started by Eric Sankar that took the front runners to the left-hand side of the road, a fact he claims photos can verify.
“From what I heard and also according to the photographs I saw, Alonzo was already ahead of Robin, when the incident occurred, one that could have endangered Alonzo’s life, as Robin pulled then later pushed him away,” posited Allen.
He added, “There is no way in a cycling event that a man takes his hand or hands off the handlebar during a sprint unless he has a clear lead over his rivals and he is celebrating a win and what Robin did can be described as endangered riding and we will not be encouraging such.
“With that in mind, both the officials and cyclists of Roraima have decided to withdraw from both the five-stage and Caribbean Championships events, while we call on the Federation to respond in a professional manner in accordance with the rules of the sport, to our concerns.”
When quizzed on whether he would be losing out should he not compete in the five-stage which pedals off next Thursday morning along with the Caribbean Championships, Greaves who is the inaugural winner of the former event having done so in 2008, said no.
“First of all, this is the third time Robin has threatened my life while I am in the saddle,” said Greaves.
“When we competed in the Castrol race on Father’s Day, he fell behind my wheel, got back up and fell again and when I won that race, they say I am the man responsible for throwing him down, when on both occasions he was behind me.
“If my memory serves me right, Hassan had told me in the park, that a man who is sprinting in front does not have eyes behind him. Yet still when I won the race on Father’s Day, I was credited with throwing him down and later disqualified,” stated Greaves.
He added, “With regard to the Caribbean Championships which will be held in Antigua, while it would be a privilege to attend that event and represent my country with pride, I fear for my life as Robin has threatened me on numerous occasions.
“I would not compete on the same team with a man who has threatened me, about which I made a report to the police, but at the same time I have to look at my safety, so I will not be competing in any of those races.”
Efforts to contact the president of the GCF Cheryl Thompson, to whom all three of RBC’s letters were carbon-copied, proved futile.