With his more celebrated Coco’s Cycling club mates, Raynauth Jeffrey and Junior Sportsman of the year Paul DeNobrega out of contention because of mechanical problems suffered during the course of the race, junior star rider Raul Leal stole the show and sprinted to his first victory of the cycling season.
Yesterday when the Assuria Insurance Company and Hassan Mohamed teamed up to pedal off their inaugural 11-race youth cycling programme at the National Park,16-year-old Leal rode away with the trophy for the feature 35-lap event in affluent fashion.
Leal, arguably one of Guyana’s most talented junior cyclists, led last year’s most successful rider, Robin Persaud, Paul Choo-Wee- Nam and Junior Niles in lapping the entire star-studded field of riders.
None of the other 25 starters escaped the wrath of Leal’s, Persaud’s, Choo, Wee-Nam’s and Niles’ wheels.
Leal, who won the race in one hour, 17 minutes and 57 seconds also pocketed a sprint prize. Persaud, who won 15 races last year, carted off four sprint prizes while two went to Niles and one to Jude Bentley.
Marlon ‘Fishy’ Williams and Wasim Gafoor rode in fifth and sixth respectively.
The event started off at a moderate pace with most of the riders bunched up for much of the race until Leal, Persaud, Niles and Choo-Wee-Nam upped the ante and gradually had a race of their own after lapping the field in the 27th lap.
Some of the riders in the chase pack worked valiantly to close the gap but after a spill in lap 28, their efforts were thwarted and the four leaders had a race of their own.
The leaders rode spiritedly and were still together at 250 metres before the finish line. At this point however, Leal rose from his saddle and a fierce sprint between himself and Persaud, who was a bit late to respond, ensued.
Persaud, known for his sprinting prowess, tried his best to catch Leal but the junior’s lead and determination was too much to overcome.
Rawle Small won the BMX boys’ 12-to-14 years, three-lap race ahead of Bryton John and Shamar Grannum respectively while Rashidi Ceres took top honours in the BMX boys’ nine-to-12 years, two-lap race ahead of Thuran Gharbarran.
Before the feature event, Niles rode off with the veteran’s under-50, five–lap, first place trophy and the prime prize beating Stephen Fernandes and Kennard Lovell who were second and third respectively.
Jason Jordan took top honours in the three-lap BMX boys Open race ahead of Jamal John and Earl Ramkarran.
In the 12-to-14-years, boys and girls’ three-lap race, Romel Crawford took home the winner’s trophy and the prime prize in 12 minutes and 15 seconds. Tyrique Hall and Jordan were the runners up.
In the five-lap veteran’s over-50 race, Lancelot Rose was first followed by Dwayne Ramsey and Courtney Hackett, respectively.
Maurice Fagundes won the veterans’ over-60 years race ahead of Krishandat Singh. Fagundes and Singh were the only starters.
Jeban Crawford from Berbice upset Leal to win the juniors and juveniles’ 10-lap race in a time of 23 minutes and 43 seconds. Linden’s Montell Anthony was third. Leal and Hamzah Eastman however, shared the two sprint prizes that were up for grabs.
The race for the upright cyclists was won by Keon Thomas. Julio Melville and Stephano Husbands placed second and third respectively.
The two-lap BMX boy’s six-to-nine year’s race was won by Jamar Heyligar with Ken Sahadeo and Jeremiah Harrison pedaling in second and third respectively.
At the prize giving ceremony, Mohamed thanked Managing Director of Assuria Insurance Company, Yogendra Arjune for the sponsorship of the event and the cyclists for participating in the meet and making the programme a success.
Arjune handed out the prime prizes as well as the trophies to the winners and the runners-up of the events.
In brief remarks, Arjune also congratulated all the cyclists for their participation and pledged his company’s continued support for cycling and sport in general.
The cyclists will now take their talents to the open road today to compete in a 50-mile road race from Wales to Bushy Park and back to the Demerara Harbour Bridge for the finish. This event will be sponsored by Krishna Samlall, a businessman from Parika.
