Agard sounds warning with his first victory of the 2017 season

SHAQUEL Agard sprung a surprise yesterday when he crossed the finish line in the first leg of the Cheddie Jagan Memorial cycle road race,unchallenged in a time of two hours 06 minutes, 54 seconds.

After being sent on their way from New Amsterdam, Berbice,by a People’s Progressive Party executive, the 35 starters stuck together until they raced up the Number 19 Road when Hamza Eastman, Alonzo Ambrose, Agard, Paul DeNobrega, Orville Hinds and Michael Anthony broke from the leading pack and established a sizeable lead on the peloton and maintained that lead all the way to Whim on the downward journey,when Ambrose and Agard jumped the leading pack and opened a hefty lead.With 400 metres remaining to the finish, Agard jumped Ambrose and crossed the finish line unchallenged, while Ambrose was also unchallenged for the second position.

There was,however,a bunch sprint for the minor positions and Eastman prevailed over DeNobrega, Hinds and Michael Anthony.
Eastman won two primes, while Agard, DeNobrega and Ambrose won one each.
In the other categories, Curtis Dey was the first junior to cross the finish line.Junior Niles made a successful defense of the title he won last year,
Ian `Dumb Boy’ Jackson was second and Sebourne Fernandes third.
In the Mountain Bike category, Shane Bourne was first, Patrick Alphonso second and Julio Melville third.

Shenika Teixeira won the female category while Deance Welch placed second.
Before sending them on their way from New Amsterdam, former Director of Sport Neil Kumar welcomed the cyclists who were a part of the event.He also acknowledged the presence of current Director of Sport Christopher Jones and Region 6 Chairman David Armogan.Mr Armogan also welcomed the participants to the Region and urged them to be competitive and to bear in mind that the event is one that is being held to honour Guyana’s first ever Premier and former President of Guyana, who fought for Guyana’s Independence from the British rulers (England).

Unfortunately, Director of Sport,Jones,in his capacity was not given an opportunity to address the participants even though he made the long trip from West Bank Demerara to Berbice.
Meanwhile, the second leg of the three-leg event will be held on Sunday over in the West Demerara area and the final leg will be held in Essequibo on March 19.