National star cyclist, Robin Persaud brought the curtain down on the 31st annual Independence three-stage road race with a victory yesterday but it was Barbadian teenager, Jamol Eastmond who took the overall honours.
After two days, three stages and 170 miles of intense cycle racing from the Ancient County to the Mining Town of Linden, Eastmond, from the Trinidad and Tobago-based club, Heat Wave, was declared this year’s three-stage road race winner.
By virtue of back-to-back victories in the first two stages and finishing with the bunch 10 seconds behind Persaud despite two punctures, the 19-year-old’s total overall time of six hours, 58 minutes and 13 seconds was enough to see him lift this year’s title.
The Bajan, who placed third overall two years ago in the annual five-stage road race, said he will be returning with a stronger Heat Wave team to compete in that event in October.
National rider, Geron Williams who lost by only seven seconds to Eastman, last year’s road race champion, Orviille Hinds (6:58:25), in-form national rider, Alonzo Greaves (6:58:26) and Team Coco’s Raynauth Jeffrey (6:58:33) and Raul Leal (6:58:33) were the top five finishers overall .
The top six received lucrative cash prizes and trophies.
As evident by the overall times, the event was highly competitive throughout the two days of racing.
Persaud won yesterday’s 62-mile stage which pedaled off at Kara Kara, Linden and concluded at Homestretch Avenue in two hours,40 minutes and 54 seconds eclipsing last year’s time of two hours, 42 minutes and 39 seconds which was recorded by Team Coco’s Ivan Dominguez who was the overall winner of last year’s three-stage.
The 38-year old Persaud led Andrew Reece, a resurgent Christopher Holder and Williams across the line yesterday.
After separating from the pack at Providence, Persaud, Burrowes and Holder worked together until the finish line was in sight. As expected, the riders began the sprint to victory but Persaud used his superior speed to easily claim the top spot.
Despite the win his total time of six hours, 59 minutes and 21 seconds was only enough to give him an overall eighth place finish.
Horrace Burrowes (6:58:00) placed seventh overall.
The top junior was 16-year-old Leal who along with Jeffrey, Paul DeNobrega and Holder recently returned from a 30-day high altitude training stint in Colombia. The top veteran was Burrowes, second was US based, Aubrey Gordon.
Naomi Singh received a special trophy and a cash prize for being the lone female finisher after four initially started the event on Saturday.
The first stage began on Saturday at Corriverton and ended at New Amsterdam. The 60-mile second stage which also pedaled off later on Saturday, started at Rosignol and concluded at Carifesta Avenue.
At the prize giving ceremony brief remarks were made by Minister of Sport Dr. Frank Anthony and president of the Guyana Cycling Federation (GCF), Cheryl Thompson.
Dr. Anthony mentioned that despite his pleas for a local to win the race, the best man always triumphs in sports and thanked the foreign riders for their participation. The minister also encouraged them to invite more overseas riders to make the event bigger and better.
He also stated that plans are in place to make the three-stage race a grand occasion when Guyana celebrates its 50th year of independence in three years.
Thompson thanked all the cyclists for participating and congratulated the winners and runners up for finishing in the top spots.
