TEAM UNITED’S Orville Hinds rode tactically yesterday to win the feature 35-lap event of the 10th Annual Hand-in-Hand race cycle programme in the National Park.The day’s activity which was organised by national cycle coach Hassan Mohamed attracted some of the country’s top junior riders and a few seniors, since the top riders are on national duty in Puerto Rico, competing in the Elite Caribbean Championships which will conclude today.
Hinds who was with the leading bunch up to the 31st-lap jumped Stephanoo Husbands, Michael Anthony, Robin Persaud and Mario King and went on to extend his lead during the remaining three laps and was never challenged for the lead, thereafter crossing the finish line approximately 125 metres ahead of the second placed King.
Persaud, Anthony and Husbands came around the final turn for the finish with Persaud leading, but Anthony went into over-drive and raced past the finish line by almost half a wheel, as Persaud held on for fourth and Husbands settled for fifth, while Paul DeNobrega ended sixth.
Hinds’ winning time was one hour, 16 minutes, 35.93 seconds which is better than last year’s winner of the event, Alonzo Greaves, who is currently in Puerto Rico on national duty, and who won the 2013 edition of the event in one hour 21 minutes, 27.58 seconds.
Anthony and Hinds won two prime prizes each while DeNobrega, Albert Philander, and Persaud won one each.
In other results, Husbands won the 10-lap race for juveniles ahead of Jamal John and Alonzo Ambrose respectively, doing so in a time of 23 minutes 10.05 seconds.
Damion Sukdeo won the five-lap race for mountain bikers ahead of Adrian Sharma, while Jerimah Harrison won the BMX boys’ six to nine years old two-lap race. Second was Alexander Leung and third was Christopher Goring.
The BMX Boys and Girls’ 12-14 years three-lap event was won by Raken Blair, second was Brighton John and finishing third was Davenand Kapilnauth.
Junior Niles won the veterans’ under 50 years of age five-lap race ahead of Jaikaran Sukhai and Kennard Lovell respectively, while Linden Blackman was first among the veterans’ over-50 years event over the same distance. Second in this category was Johnathan `Old Legs’ Creavalle who is based in the United States. Third was motor racer Kevin Jeffrey.
Monty Parris won the five-lap race for veterans over 60 years of age.
Prior to the presentation of prizes to the respective winners, race coordinator Mohamed thanked the sponsors, Hand-in-Hand Insurance for their continued support to the programme as well as the cyclists for their participation.
Speaking on behalf of the Insurance Company, Bonicka Gordon, thanked the cyclists for being a part of the programme and pledged the Insurance company’s support for the future.
Meanwhile, cyclists will turn their attention to the third annual Kadir Mohamed Memorial 80-mile Cycle Road Race, which pedals off this morning at 07:30hrs.
Cyclists will battle for some $700,000 in cash and smelted gold in the race, which begins on Homestretch Avenue, proceeds to Dora on the Linden/Soesdyke Highway before returning to the starting point for the finish.
The top Open, Juveniles, Juniors and Veterans Under and Over 45 years will put their wheels to the line, in search of the top prize of one ounce of smelted gold.