In wet, windy conditions at the National Park yesterday, Roraima Bikers Club’s (RBC), Alanzo Greaves reigned over his rivals in the feature 35-lap event of the second annual Malta Supreme 11-race cycle programme.
The national cyclist, who chalked up his 11th signature victory on the local circuit, took pole position in one hour, 15 minutes and 33 seconds and also pocketed two sprint prizes.
Greaves led Jude Bentley, Warren ‘40’ McKay, national Road Race champion, Raynauth Jeffrey, Robin Persaud and Albert Philander into the top six.
Bentley also carted off six sprint prizes.
The race started off at a fast pace with Bentley attacking the rest of the 40 starters from as early as the third lap. He was soon pursued and joined by the in-form Greaves and the two rode as a team to open a lead which ballooned to more than a minute with 10 laps to go even though the others valiantly pursued, through several mini-breaks led by Jeffrey, Persaud, Philander, McKay and others.
Riding tirelessly in the pouring rain, Greaves and Bentley never relinquished their lead, carting off all eight of the sprint prizes in the process. They eventually crossed the finish line inches apart without a sprint finish.
Before the feature event, Junior Niles rode off with the veterans’ under-50, five-lap, first place trophy and the prime prize beating Kennard Lovell and Shameer Baksh who were second and third respectively.
Jeban Crawford took the juniors and juveniles’ 10-lap race in 25 minutes and 20 seconds. However, third and fourth place finishers, Silvio Innis and Shaquille Agard shared the two sprint prizes. Akeem Arthur pedalled in third.
Raphael Leung won the BMX boys’ 12-to-14 years, three-lap race ahead of Rawle Small and Ricardo Ceres respectively while Ceres took top honours in the BMX boys’ nine-to-12 years, two-lap race ahead of Stephan Wilkinson and Aaron Gomes respectively.
Jamal John took top honours in the three-lap BMX Boys Open race ahead of Christopher Griffith and Jason Jordan.
In the 12-to-14-years, boys’ and girls’ three-lap race, Romello Crawford took home the winner’s trophy while Alfie Sonoram and John (sprint prize winner) occupied the runners-up positions.
In the five-lap veterans’ over-50 race, Wilfred Thom was the only starter and pocketed the spoils.
Monty Parris won the veterans over-60 years’ race ahead of arch rival, Maurice Fagundes the only two starters. The Mountain Bike race and sprint prize was won by Ozia McAlley in 13 minutes and 39 seconds. Keon Thomas and Julio Melville placed second and third respectively.
The two-lap BMX Boys’ six-to-nine years race was won by Sherwin Sampson while Alex Leung and Jeremiah Harrison pedalled in second and third in that order.
Yesterday’s event was organised by National Cycling Coach Hassan Mohamed. At the prize giving ceremony, Mohamed thanked Jose Felicien who is a Banks DIH Sales Representative for sponsorship of the event and the cyclists for participating in the meet and making the programme a success.
Felicien handed out the prime prizes as well as the trophies to the winners and the runners-up of the events.
The beverage giant’s sales rep in brief remarks also congratulated all the cyclists for their participation and pledged his company’s continued support for future cycling events and sport in general.
Today starting at 09:00 hrs, the cyclists will take their talents to the open roads of Berbice to compete in the annual 55-mile road race to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Ballot Box Martyrs.
