Briton John cops third stage, Jamual John is overall winner

By Michelangelo Jacobus

UNITED We Stand Cycling Club’s Briton John saved his best performance for last at the third and final stage of the Independence Three-Stage Cycling Road Race yesterday.

However, his effort was not enough to dislodge the overall top three cyclists as Jamual John claimed the overall title while Curtis “Chappy” Dey and Paul DeNobrega were second and third, in that order.

Racing under overcast conditions and at times a steady drizzle, the outer circuit of the National Park was challenging, but Briton along with teammate Deeraj Garbarran, who finished second, won by some distance.

Briton’s winning time was one hour, 50 minutes and 25 seconds.
However, the youngsters’ efforts were in vain as Team Coco’s Jamual John retained the leader’s yellow jersey throughout the three stages to be crowned overall winner.
Briton opened an early lead and set at least a mile between himself and the chasing pack. However, his teammate Garbarran broke away from the group and caught up with Briton with five laps to go.

After Garbarran and Briton crossed the finish line, there was a five-man sprint for third place. Jamual John showed exactly why he is widely regarded as the best sprinter in Guyana by taking third and maintaining his overall lead.
The five-minute gap from stage one of the race ensured that John was under no real threat of losing his overall grasp on the title.

Paul DeNobrega suffered an accident in the third stage during the penultimate lap and, as a result, he dropped from second overall to third, behind Dey.

John’s overall winning time was six hours, eight minutes and 57 seconds, while Dey finished with a combined time of six hours, nine minutes flat. DeNobrega copped third place with a time of six hours, 10 minutes, four seconds.
Ajay Gopilall, Alanzo Ambrose and Paul Cho-Wee-Nam closed out the top six overall winners.

Gopilall, with a total of six hours, 12 minutes and 19 seconds, was the top overall junior cyclist with Briton John finishing second while third went to Adealie Hodge.
In the Masters category, Cho-Wee-Nam took the top honours while Junior Niles and Clement Doris were second and third, respectively.

Each of the category winners received trophies while the overall winner–Jamual John–received a second trophy, specially from Trophy Stall who was on board as a sponsor.
In addition, the top three cyclists in each category received medals (Gold, Silver, Bronze) while cash prizes to the tune of $400,000 was handed out.
Major sponsors of the event included Sueria Manufacturing and Trophy Stall.