Local cyclist, Geron Williams, who represented Guyana at the recent Commonwealth Games said yesterday that he is “in one way proud” of his performance at the Games, but yet “disappointed” because he feels he could’ve done better with more intense preparation.
“In one way I am proud because I actually finished the race and because I am the first Guyanese cyclist in history to finish the road race at the Commonwealth Games” said Williams.
In the midst of a field of professional cyclists from around the world, some of whom are world champions and who were fresh out of participation in last July’s Tour de France, the 19-year-old cyclists completed the 168km road race in the 31st position.
What makes Williams’ performance even more credible is the fact that of the 130 riders who started the race, only 52 managed to finish the event.
The set that did not finish includes Guyana’s other male representatives for the Games’ cycling events, Alonzo Greaves and Marlon Williams. On October 15, Stabroek Sport had incorrectly reported that Williams had placed 31st out of a field of 60. Stabroek Sport regrets the error.
The young cyclist, who was participating in his first Commonwealth Games, also wears the compliment of being the first Caribbean rider to cross the finish line in the road race as he placed ahead of Barbadian Darren Matthews, who placed 32nd and Trinidad and Tobago’s United States-based professional cyclist, Emile Abraham. Abraham placed 35th in the event.
Other Caribbean cyclists such as Laurence Jupp of The Bahamas, Marloe Rodman (Jamaica), Omarie King (Antigua and Barbuda) and Dominic Stephen Ollivierre of St. Vincent & The Grenadines also did not complete the road race event.
“I am disappointed in another way because I thought I could’ve done better if I had prepared more among some overseas riders… I had some preparation overseas, but not at that level” Williams related.
Williams explained that the field was going at a very fast pace because of the number of professional cyclists and it was hard to “stay up” with the riders, but he managed to do this to some extent.
“It all comes down to experience” Williams added.
Based on his achievement, Williams came in for some praise from United Kingdom (UK)-based cycling coach, Shaun Green, who manages Guyana’s lone female cycling representative at the Games, the UK-based Claire Fraser.
“Geron was sitting in the top half, holding wheels and refusing to be bullied out by the professionals… only 19 and in the race of his life he just dug in and stayed in the right place. Come the final lap there were groups split over the course and Geron’s came in a few minutes down, he was 31st, which is an incredible result” Green related via an e-mail.