,,, Jeffrey, Newton and Fraser also fast
INDEPENDENT cyclist Jude Bentley maintained his impressive form on the local cycling stage to come away with the fastest time, when the Guyana Cycling Federation (GCF) held its annual Time Trial on the Linden/Soesdyke Highway yesterday afternoon. Also topping their respective categories were the vast-improving Raynauth Jeffrey of Carlton Wheelers Cycle Club, Raymond ‘Steely’ Newton and UK-based Guyanese Claire Fraser, who won the Junior, Veteran and Female categories respectively.
Bentley recorded a time of 21:36:39secs for the distance which saw the cyclists move off from the top of Madewini Hill, proceed to the first toll station and back to the place of origin for the finish.
Roraima Bikers Club’s Marlon ‘Fishy’ Williams was second to Bentley, finishing 24:10 seconds slower, with his time reading 22:00:10secs, while Enzo Matthews of Continental Cycle Club was third in a time of 22:00:14secs.
In the Junior category, Jeffrey clocked 21:52:23secs to claim the top podium finish away from Paul De Nobrega (21:55:79) and Michael Anthony (22:36:73secs and in the Veterans division, Newton recorded a time of 22:33:41secs to win from Shameer Baksh (24:15:76secs) and Kennard Lovell who stopped the clock at 24:35:60secs.
Fraser’s time of 25:58:25secs, was good enough to give her the top spot in the female category over Naomi Singh (27:04:70) and Hazina Bharrat whose time read 27:31:61secs.
The cyclists will turn their attention to the Road Race today, for which Walter Grant-Stuart, who had the fourth best time in yesterday’s time trial, is the defending senior champion, while De Nobrega will be defending his junior title.
Bharrat is the female road race champion and Junior Niles the Veterans champion and while all the cyclists will pedal off from Amelia’s Ward entrance, only the senior will proceed to Madewini and return with the juniors going to Kuru Kuru Hill and return to the place of origin for the finish. The ladies and veteran cyclists will go to Dora and return.