PAUL DeNobrega rode a well-judged race to win the final stage of the National Sports Commission’s (NSC) 32nd Annual Three-Stage cycle road race, but Barbadian Darren Matthews turned out to be the overall winner of the 175.5-mile event.

After being sent off from Kara Kara Linden yesterday morning, the bunch of 53 starters stuck together for a while with the lead interchanging.
There were several attempted breaks which were not established early in the stage.
However, as the riders approached the entrance to Camp Soweyo on the Linden Highway, Orville Hinds, DeNobrega, Matthews and four others broke from the pack and established a healthy lead which they maintained throughout the stage and from there the leaders interchanged.
Coming down Homestretch Avenue for the finish, DeNobrega outsprinted the bunch to claim first place ahead of Matthews who won the first stage (Corriverton, Berbice to New Amsterdam) and placed second in stage two (Rosignol to Carifesta Avenue). Third yesterday was Hinds.
DeNobrega’s time for 64.5-mile stage was two hours 46 minutes 14 seconds.
Matthews, representing Team Coco, registered an overall time of six hours 53 minutes 18 seconds to win the overall title ahead of Guyana’s Geron Williams who returned six hours 54 minutes 23 seconds for second place overall.
The third spot went to Marlon `Fishy’ Williams who clocked six hours 54 minutes 30 seconds.
Alanzo Greaves finished fourth with a time of six hours 54 minutes 59 seconds and he was followed by Hinds with a time of six hours 55 minutes 22 seconds. Colombia’s Mauricio Robeiro placed sixth.
The winner of the junior category was Akeem Arthur who clocked six hours 56 minutes 25 seconds. Second was Michael Anthony.
Robin Persaud won the Veterans title ahead of Junior Niles and Stephen Fernandes respectively.
Despite the race being a very competitive one, no records were broken this year as compared to other years.
The current overall record-holder is Yasmani Pol of Team Coco who clocked six hours 44 minutes 55 seconds for the event in 2011.
That year Pol had also registered a record-breaking one hour 38 minutes 31 seconds for the 46.6-mile first stage and another record-breaking two hours 15 minutes 31 seconds for the 60.4-mile second stage.
The third stage (64.5 miles) record is being held by another Team Coco member, Ivan Doniniquez, who clocked two hours 42 minutes 39 seconds in 2012.
Written By Michael DaSilva