By Emmerson Campbell
National cyclists Alonzo Greaves and Geron Williams each had a successful 2011 season barring the injuries they each sustained.
The two, arguably the two best young riders in Guyana, are now fully recovered and have returned to their saddles in their quest to have another successful season this year.
Greaves, who broke his hand while on national duties in Jamaica at the Caribbean Championships last September, noted that he started training a week ago, riding for an excess of three hours with other national riders.
“Well, right now I’m doing long rides, three-hour and four-hour rides with some other national cyclists like Alex (Mendes), Robin (Persaud), Junior (Niles) and Geron (Williams) and those guys, we ride from town to Abary sometimes town to Mahaicony,” Greaves told Stabroek Sport.
Greaves, 23, indicated that he had a good year last year and said he hopes it continues this season.
“Well, earlier last year was good for me. The Three-Stage road race I got fifth overall, overseas, I did pretty well. I had meets in Trinidad, Suriname, I got 10th at the ALBA Games in Venezuela, also in Trinidad I went to the West Indies versus the World, the Easter Grand Prix, I did well in some other international races as well, I got some top five finishes and so on so I hope it continues this year.”
Greaves added that he hopes to get back in the form he had last year to possibly be a wild card entrant at the London Olympics.
“I am hoping to get back in shape. I’m training again and I hope to get back in the form I had last year make a couple tours, do well and see if I can get a wild card to go to the (London) Olympics if that is possible.”
Williams, who sustained a broken collar bone in the first stage of the ‘Ride for Life’ five-Stage road race in Berbice in October, echoed Greaves’ comments with regards to also being a wild card entrant at the Olympic Games.
The 20-year-old Williams, who had an impressive stint in the USA last year and turned in notable performances locally and regionally, said that he could not ask for a better year last year and plans to keep pedalling away with more accolades in 2012.
“Last year for me was pretty ok,” said Williams.
“I had four wins in the States in the Pro One category; also I had 10, top five finishes in some races locally and regionally. I could not ask for a better year last year, the only setback was my injury.
“I had a good season even with the injury I was not disappointed. For this year, I will train hard and continue where I left off from last year.”
Williams, who also started training a week ago, is currently doing long rides from Georgetown to the East Coast.
Greaves’ and Williams’s season will pedal off on January 28 at the National Park circuit when national cycling coach Hassan Mohamed stages his first ‘Teach Them Young ‘Programme.
