TEAM Coco’s Raynauth `Obeah Man’ Jeffrey is highly tipped to win today’s 65-mile first stage leg of the National Sports Commission’s sponsored Three-Stage Cycle Road race which wheels off at 07:00hrs from Carifesta Avenue.Speaking with followers of the sport and supporters of individual cyclists’, Chronicle Sport has concluded that Jeffrey is the most favoured cyclist to win today’s first stage which starts on Carifesta Avenue, proceed to Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara, before returning to the place of origin for the finish.
The individuals that Chronicle Sport spoke with are also of the view that Team Evolution’s Orville Hinds will win the individual time trial which is a distance of 3.5 miles and commences at 15:00hrs from Carifesta Avenue and concludes at Plaisance, East Coast Demerara.
Based on their comments, they all observed that Jeffrey, despite not being among the top performers on the local scene over the past two or three months, is still a very strong and tactical cyclist, who, once he gets the support from his Coco’s team-mates, will definitely `destroy’ the opposition, as the opposing team members will have their eyes set on Jamal John (Team Coco’s) who won two consecutive races, the last being the Digicel-sponsored `Breast Cancer Awareness’ 30-lap criterium around the outer circuit of the National Park last Sunday and as such, the opposition will respond to every attack John launches and in the process, Jeffrey will be aided to stay with the peloton, giving him the advantage in terms of stamina leading to the final 150 metres.
The individual time trial will not just see the best sprinter emerging as champion, as the event is not a sprint event, but one that calls for the three s’s – strength, stamina and speed – and here is where Hinds out classes his opponents, as he has all three S’s and the mere fact that each cyclist will have to journey for 3.5 miles against the heavy Atlantic breeze that will be pounding on their chests, Hinds stands out above the others.
Meanwhile, the three-stage event will conclude tomorrow with a 30-lap race around the outer circuit of the National Park beginning at 11:00hrs from outside the Guyana Defence Force, Camp Ayanganna compound, Irving Street entrance and will conclude at the place of origin.
A total prize package of $400,000 will be up for grabs and the entire event is open to seniors, juniors and veterans.