TEAM Evolution, led by Raul Leal, occupied the top three positions of the annual Forbes Burnham Memorial cycle road race which concluded yesterday with the staging of the second and third stages of the event.Leal’s team mates Marlon `Fishy’ Williams and Orville Hinds placed second and third, while Team Alanis’ Paul DeNobrega placed fourth, Shaquil Agard was fifth and Junior Niles sixth.
Leal, who covered the three stages of the event in an overall time of five hours 55 minutes .05 seconds, won the first stage which was held in Berbice on Sunday and was fourth in the second stage yesterday morning.
In the final stage yesterday afternoon, Leal finished second.
The first stage started in New Amsterdam, Berbice, proceeded to Rose Hall Town and returned to the place of origin for the finish.
Michael Anthony, another Team Evolution cyclist placed second in that stage while Williams, Agard, and Romelo Crawford occupied the other top positions respectively.
In stage two which started at Kara Kara, Linden Highway and finished on Homestretch Avenue, Hinds won ahead of Niles and Crawford respectively. Leal was fourth, Raphael Leung fifth and Williams sixth.
Stage three got underway from the National Cultural Centre, Georgetown and proceeded to Belfield, East Coast Demerara before returning to finish outside the Chinese Embassy, Mandela Avenue.
In that stage, Hinds won ahead of Leal, Williams, Leal and DeNobrega in that order.
In yesterday’s final stage, Anthony was first to break from the pack but was soon joined by Leal and Agard. Hinds followed soon after and in company with Williams, connected with the leaders and together they opened a huge gap and were never caught.
However, on the downward journey, Williams made a move at Buxton, East Coast Demerara. Hinds then jumped Leal who responded and connected but the leaders extended their lead until the finish.