In sweltering conditions at the National Park yesterday, Roraima Bikers Club’s (RBC) Alanzo Greaves won his 13th local signature race for the season when he scorched a star-studded field of rivals in the feature 35-lap event of the National Sports Commission (NSC) sponsored 11-race cycle programme.
Greaves, who stopped the clock in one hour, 17 minutes and 12 seconds also pocketed two of the eight sprint prizes.
The 24-year-old led national road race champion, Raynauth Jeffrey, his club mate Warren ’40’ McKay, junior star rider, Hamzah Eastman, Alex Mendes and Raymond ‘Steely’ Newton respectively into the top six.
Jeffrey, however, carted off four sprint prizes, while one apiece went to last year’s most successful cyclist, Robin Persaud and Delroy Hinds.
The feature race started off at a fever pitch pace with the starters jostling for lead positions. From the fifth lap, Greaves, Jeffrey, Persaud and top junior cyclist, Shaquel Agard separated from the rest of the 22 starters.
The top four rode in tandem to hold off valiant chases of the numerous chase pelotons until 16 laps to go. At this point, four became two after Persaud crashed and Agard got dropped from the pace.
The tireless duo of Greaves and Jeffrey upped the ante and rode as a unit, opening up a comfortable lead in the process.
With four laps for the finish, however, team work was thrown out the window when Jeffrey rose from his saddle and pounced on Greaves.
The in-form Greaves responded and quickly reconnected to the Team Coco’s rider.
At the bell lap Greaves and Jeffrey played a cat and mouse game with the aim of taking the spoils.
The two leaders were still together 200m from the finish but as expected, Greaves who is blessed with superb sprinting ability stormed across the finish line ahead of Jeffrey to take the win.
Before the feature event, Daniel Fraser won the BMX boys’ 12 to 14 years, three-lap race ahead of Kemuel Moses and Rawle Small respectively. Rashedi Ceres took top honours in the BMX boys’ 9 to 12 years, two-lap race pedalling in before Ammo Gomes and Stephan Wilkinson.
Sherwin Sampson won the BMX boys’ 6 to 9 years two-lap event, finishing before Jeremiah Harrison and Alex Leung.
Top veteran Niles rode off with the veteran’s under-50, five-lap, first place trophy and the sprint prize, beating Ralph Williams and Kennard Lovell who were second and third respectively.
Adrian Sharma took top honours in the three-lap, BMX boys’ open race relegating Christopher Griffith and Small to the runners-up positions.
In the 12 to 14 years, boys’ and girls’ three-lap race, Jamal John took home the winner’s trophy and both sprint prizes, Alfie Sonoram was second and Griffith pedalled in third.
In the five-lap veteran’s over-50 race, Virgil Jones was the first finisher followed by Lancelot Rose and Wilfred Thom.
Maurice Fagundes took home the veterans’ over-60 years’ winner’s trophy since he was the only finisher.
Eastman won the juniors’ and juveniles’ 10-lap event in 22 minutes and 55 seconds and also grabbed both sprint prizes. Agard pedalled in second while Mario King was third.
The race and the sprint prize for the Mountain Bikers event was won by Clyde Jacobs. Richard Charles and Ozia McAlley placed second and third respectively.
At the prize-giving ceremony, National Cycling Coach and organizer of the programme Hassan Mohamed thanked Arnold Sukraj on behalf of the NSC for the sponsorship of the event. Mohamed also thanked the cyclists for participating in the meet and making the programme a success.
Notes: Persaud won a record 15 signature races last year on the local circuit; Greaves is three away from surpassing that achievement.
Yesterday’s programme was held to commemorate the end of Mohamed’s eight-week 37th annual ‘Teach Them Young’ clinic which concluded on Friday.
