-Winner to be decided after input from International Cycling Union

PROTESTS of an infraction on the finish line resulted in the Guyana Cycling Federation (GCF writing to parent body, the International Cycling Union (The Union Cycliste Internationale UCI), to decide on the path forward and, in essence, the winner of the 2021 National Cycling Championships.
Top-rated cyclist in Guyana, Briton John, crossed the finish line first in the gruelling 100-miler from Georgetown to the Linden/Soesdyke Highway and back yesterday morning, but he did so, according to the other podium finishers, while riding outside of his lane.
Paul DeNobrega and Romello Crawford lodged an official complaint and the executive of the GCF decided to forward the information, which included both front and back camera footage, to the highest authority in cycling, the UCI, for them to make a decision.

Third vice-president of the GCF, Enzo Matthews, said that the decision was made because “in a very Guyanese manner, everybody seems to know the rules and when you’re in a position of that state, it means we need to send it to the proper authority, the UCI, which is the governing body for cycling.
“We will be sending off this information to the UCI, and depending on their decision, that will be final…at this time, we do not have an official winner.”
This is the second time for this month that the explosive John has been criticised for his finish. At the Team Alanis 60-mile road race from Georgetown to Half-Way Tree, Mahaicony and back, on Arrival Day (May 5), he was relegated to second place for a similarly accused infraction on the line.
The Nationals, however, follow UCI rules, hence the need for guidance.

BRILLIANT BATTLE
Though the alleged infraction marred the coveted championship prior to the finish, the race was a battle of wits and proved the importance of teamwork.
The cyclists battled the rain, the wind and each other. For a while, Deoraj Gharbarran, Walter Grant-Stuart and Adealie Hodge had enjoyed a comfortable lead in the race, but their four minutes lead disintegrated and they were consumed by the peloton, which included the cream of the crop of riders. John, his namesake Jamual John, US-based cyclist, Raynauth Jeffrey, Crawford, who just returned from competing overseas, and Team Evolution riders– DeNobrega and Griffith– were all playing cat and mouse with each other.
After the junction off the highway, it was Griffith and Grant-Stuart who attacked and soon Briton John and DeNobrega followed.
Defending champion, Jamual John and his New York Foundation Cycling Club teammate, Jeffrey slowed down before eventually dropping out. Jeffrey, who won the National Time Trials on Saturday, said that initially, they agreed to ride as a team, but the partnership never progressed.

The partnership that progressed was between DeNobrega and Griffith. Fan favourite, Crawford, stayed with the second pack and seemed out of it as the quartet surged ahead.
Soon after, amputee Grant-Stuart, (missing an arm), was pushed 30 seconds behind and it became a tactical battle between the Team Evolution riders and Briton John from We Stand United Cycling Club. On numerous occasions, John attempted to pull away, but either DeNobrega or Griffith chased him down. The tactics to take control resulted in the riders not giving it their all, which saw the determined Stuart returning to the pack. The race got tense at Eccles, when, out of nowhere, Crawford appeared. The five cyclists then stayed together until the final 200M when John took off with Crawford and DeNobrega close behind.
After John, Crawford crossed the line a split second ahead of DeNobrega, while Griffith crossed the line fourth and Grant-Stuart fifth.
Next week a race with juniors, masters and females cyclists will conclude the 2021 National Championships.