Showing tremendous endurance, grit and determination, Alonzo `Zo’ Greaves yesterday turned in a performance of the highest quality to take the lead in the five-stage `Tour de Guyana’ cycle road race after winning the second stage in a driving finish from John Charles.
Greaves is now sitting comfortably at the top of the leader board with a lead that is close to six minutes after two gruelling stages of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport inaugural event.
Greaves outsprinted Charles and Marlon Williams to claim the second stage from Rosignol to Carifesta Avenue in a time of 2:35:53 whilst the fourth to sixth-placed finishers of the stage came in at 2:41:16.
Twenty four starters faced the gun for the second stage with only 20 completing the distance.
Williams, in collaboration with Junior Niles, had earlier broken away from the pack shortly after the starting point but were wheeled in by a small peloton led by Greaves and including Darren Allen just before they reached Fort Wellington.
However, after passing through that village, Williams made a break of his own and opened a sizeable lead on his rivals.
He was, however, riding without his customary cycle shoes which was left in a vehicle back in New Amsterdam.
When he was finally outfitted with the right gear as he made his way through Mahaicony, Greaves and Charles caught up with him.
They stayed together with the lead being rotated among the trio all the way down.
Williams claimed four sprint prizes.
Junior Niles (2:41:16), was fourth, Leer Nunes, fifth and first stage winner Warren Mc Kay sixth.
Robin Persaud placed seventh in a time of 2:41:59s.
Allen encountered cramps in both legs and was forced to call it quits when well set for a better showing compared to his efforts earlier in the day during the first stage.
In the veterans’ division, Compton Persaud took first place from Walter Isaacs and Monty Persaud in that order, registering a time of 1:14:38 in a race that started at De Hoop Mahaicony and proceeded to the finish line.
Meanwhile, Mc Kay won the first stage from Springlands, Corriverton to New Amsterdam in a time of 1:51:47, with Chris Holder Jnr. Robin Persaud, Linden Blackman, Niles and Williams all finishing in that order.
Thirty-two riders participated in the first stage.
The race started at exactly 7.30am and immediately after crossing the Upper Corentyne Bridge, a spill occurred between George Chance and Floyd Adams resulting in both athletes withdrawing from the stage. Chance was however readmitted.
After three minutes from the start, Greaves, Niles and Tyrone Hamilton broke away from the pack and seemed to be heading for the finish line unchallenged but they were eventually caught.
Subsequently, Blackman and Persaud led another break followed by Mc Kay, Holder and Niles and together they maintained a lead on the peloton which included Greaves, Williams, Allen, Leer Nunes and young Chris Persaud.
Persaud took the veteran category which started in front of the University of Guyana, Berbice branch at Tain Village and ended in New Amsterdam.
He clocked a time of 45:19:10 for the event.
Isaacs and Paris were second and third respectively.
Prior to the start of the second stage, Mc Kay was presented with the yellow jersey and cap by Nazim Hussain for taking the first stage+ .
