Williams, Hinds raring to go

UNITED States-based cyclists Geron Williams and the consistent Orville Hinds are raring to go when the National Sports Commission-sponsored annual Three-Stage cycle road race gets under way tomorrow in Berbice.
Speaking to Chronicle Sport, Williams who returned last Thursday from a sojourn in the U.S. said he thinks he is in good form at the moment.He, however, made no predictions if he is going for a win. “I’m looking forward to keen competition. The local riders have all been performing well since the local season started, so I’m going into this race with an open mind and to do the best I can do,” Williams stated.
Williams placed second overall behind Barbadian Jomal Eastman who returned a winning overall time of six hours 58 minutes 13 seconds.
Eastman had won the first and second stages last year with Alanzo Greaves and Hinds finishing second and third.
Williams and Robin Persaud were second and third respectively in stage two.
Hinds told Chronicle Sport he is prepared physically and mentally for the challenges he is anticipating. He said he is going into the race to win and nothing else.
Hinds, like Williams, expects keen competition from the local cyclists as well as the regional and international cyclists, who will face the starter at 07:00hrs at Corriverton, Berbice for the downward journey to New Amsterdam, a distance of 46.6 miles.
The second stage begins at 14:00hrs tomorrow also and will wheel off from the Rosignol stelling and proceed to Carifesta Avenue, Georgetown for the finish, a distance of 60.4 miles.
Stage three will commence 08:00hrs on Sunday morning from Kara Kara, Linden Highway, and conclude on Homestretch Avenue, Georgetown, a distance of 75.5 miles.
Hinds entered his first three-stage race four years ago and his best placing was a third-place finish last year.
Williams, on the other hand, entered his first three-stage event at the age of 13. The now 22-year-old cyclist’s best placing was his second-place finish last year.
According to Williams, he participated in quite a few criterium races while in the U.S. lately. He said the season started in February, but he went back from Guyana to the U.S. in March, hence he started late but managed to finish the season 16th overall in the Open category and second in the Under-25 age group.
The overall record holder for the event is Ivan Dominiquez of Team Coco that is based in Miami, USA.
Dominiquez’ time for the event is six hours 44 minutes 55 seconds which he registered in 2012. This eclipsed the six hours 45 minutes 54 seconds that was recorded by Godfrey Pollydore in 1998.
Dominiquez’ team mate Yasmani Pol holds the record (one hour 38 minutes 31 seconds) for the first stage, this was registered in 2011, the very year he registered a new record (two hours 15 minutes 31 seconds) for the second stage.
Dominiquez holds the record (two hours 42 minutes 39 seconds) for stage three. This was done in 2012).
Meanwhile, the cyclists will leave Georgetown at noon today for Berbice.
Transportation leaves the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport office, Main and Quamina Streets and all cyclists are asked to assemble at 11:30hrs for a briefing and a send-off by Minister of Sport Dr Frank Anthony.