Star cyclist Alonzo Greaves yesterday powered his way to his fifth win of the season when he blitzed a star-studded field to claim the 22nd annual R&R International 40-mile road race.
In windy conditions, Greaves stopped the clock at one hour, 41 minutes and 58 seconds eclipsing last year’s winning time by almost four minutes (one hour,45 minutes and 16 seconds) which was set by Robin Persaud.
The race started at the Demerara Harbour Bridge, proceeded to Bushy Park and ended at the starting point.
The inform Greaves led national cyclists Geron Williams, Orville Hinds, newly selected Junior Sportsman of the Year, Paul DeNobrega, Marlon ‘Fishy’ Williams and Jude Bentley into the top six positions.
Bentley (two), Hinds (one), DeNobrega (one) and Williams (one) also won sprint prizes.
Stephen Fernandes, the recipient of the other sprint prize, took the top honours in the veterans’ category ahead Raymond Newton and Ian Jackson while Raul Leal, Akeem Arthur and Michael Anthony were the top three junior finishers respectively.
The event, which saw 44 riders facing the starter’s pistol, was very competitive at the initial stage as most of the riders were bunched together with the lead interchanging periodically.
On the upward journey at the village of La Jealousie, however, the top six separated from the field and despite being hotly pursued they were never caught.
At around 200 metres to go on the homestretch, the race was still undecided as the top six finishers were still bunched up.
With victory in sight, each of the riders rose from their respective saddles and a fierce sprint to the line ensued.
Greaves, who is gifted with superior sprinting ability, however seemed to find another gear and sprinted to victory to cart off the spoils.
At the prize giving ceremony, organizer of the event, Hassan Mohamed congratulated the cyclists for making the event a successful one and also praised DeNobrega for copping the Junior Sports Man-of-the Year award.
