By Emmerson Campbell
London Olympic hopeful Geron Williams yesterday outsprinted the field to capture this year’s Dr. Chase Jorgens, Seven Seas and Nature Valley Products CARICOm Day 50-mile cycle road race.
The event, which was organised by national cycling coach Hassan Mohammed, started at Wales, proceeded to Bushy Park and ended at the Demerara Harbour Bridge.
The Continental Club cyclist’s winning time was one hour, 53 minutes and 16 seconds.
Williams led the star-studded field which included last year’s winner Robin Persaud, junior star riders Paul DeNobrega, Raul Leal, Michael Anthony and reigning Road Race Champion Orville Hinds into the top six positions.
Hinds, however, copped a prime prize as did another Olympic hopeful Alonzo Greaves, Lindeners Mark Lewis, Rastaff O’Selmo, Roraima Biker’s Albert Philander and Sean Alves. DeNobrega, who successfully defended his junior title, copped two prime prizes.
The event saw 60 riders including females Marica Dick, Hazina Barrett and Naomi Singh, who won the female event, facing the starter’s pistol.
The race, which was very competitive, saw the riders bunched together for most of the distance with the lead interchanging periodically.
Most of the riders were still bunched up on the way to Bushy Park, however, on the way back at Windsor Forest, 11 riders, which included the top six, upped the ante and separated themselves from the rest of the field.
The lead peloton would journey together until the finish line was in sight.
With 200 metres to go each of the riders rose from their respective saddles and a fierce sprint to the line ensued.
Williams, however, gritted his teeth and seemed to find another gear as he powered himself to the victory narrowly edging out Persaud.
The three top Veteran riders were Talim Shaw, Kennard Lovell and Keith Fernandes while the three top Upright cyclists were Michael De Roche, Hamzah Eastman and Keon Thomas respectively. At the completion of the event Mohamed praised the cyclists for riding an incident free and disciplined race. He also stated that his next road race will be staged in Berbice on July 15. Karen Connell, Seven Seas’ product specialist and Mahesh Itwaru, Dr Chase’s brand representatives both congratulated the cyclists and shared out the trophies and prizes.
