`Obeah Man’ clings on to lead going into today’s final stage

RAYNAUTH `Obeah Man’ Jeffrey continues to cling on to the lead of the Ministry of Health (MoH)/National AIDS Programme Secretariat (NAPS)/National Sports Commission (NSC) 7th Annual Five-Stage `Ride for Life’ cycle road race going into today’s final stage.Jeffrey who won the first stage (Corriverton to New Amsterdam, Berbice) on Friday and placed sixth in the second stage (Rosignol to Georgetown) on Friday also, won stage four (Supernaam to Charity and back to Suddie, Essequibo Coast) yesterday, to hold on to the lead with a time of two hours 29 minutes 55 seconds.
He leads the other 35 cyclists that will start today’s fifth stage (Kara Kara, Linden to Georgetown) by almost one minute.
Alonzo Greaves is currently second, 54 seconds adrift of Jeffrey while Barbados’ Darren Matthews is third, one minute 14 seconds behind Jeffrey.
Godfrey Pollydore, Geron Williams and Orville Hinds are currently fourth, fifth and sixth, respectively, while Paul DeNobrega, Junior Niles, Robin Persaud and Colombian Jaime Ramerez make up the other places in the top ten.
From the start of yesterday’s fourth stage, the 37 starters stuck together for most of the journey to Charity, but when they turned back heading to Suddie for the finish, Jeffrey made a move that the others thought was too early and paid him no mind, but as he is known to be the `Obeah Man’ he was true to his name as he pedalled away from the bunch.
When the others realised what was happening, they changed gears and went after him, but the move was too late and Jeffrey crossed the finish line unchallenged.
Greaves and Hinds battled for second while there was a bunch finish for the other top spots.
Today’s final stage is expected to be a scorcher, as several cyclists have intentions on weighing in on the lucrative prize monies that are up for grabs.
While all but one of the cyclists contesting today’s final stage are riding for teams, Geron Williams who represents Continental Wheelers is all alone, as he does not have a team mate to help him.
He however said he will do what he has to do today, “I don’t know why everyone is after me, but I’ll do my thing and hopefully come out on top,” Williams stated.
Meanwhile, there were 72 registrants but only 62 started the race from Corriverton, Berbice and 57 finished the first stage.
The 57 started the second stage and only 39 finished it, including the lone female Naiomi Singh.
Thirty eight started stage three, Wales to Bushy Park, East Bank Essequibo and 37 finished it.
Today’s final stage is expected to be completed by 11.15 hrs on Homestretch Avenue.

(By Michael DaSilva)