The 2014 cycling season is rolling along in top gear for Team United’s Orville Hinds.
The 2012 national road race champion has racked up two wins and two second place finishes in the four cycling events so far.
The national cyclist’s latest victory came yesterday when he braved the inclement weather, took his
talents to the open roads of West Demerara and reigned over Guyana’s best wheelsmen in the drizzling National Sports Commission (NSC) sponsored 40-mile road race.
Hinds, 24, stopped the clock at one hour, 39 minutes and 59 seconds for the event which pedaled off at Schoonord, proceeded to Bushy Park and returned to the point of origin for the finish.
He led Robin Persaud, Raul Leal, Geron Williams, Marlon ‘Fishy’ Williams and Chris Persaud into the top six paid positions.
“I’m just training hard and learning from the mistakes I made last season,” Hinds told Stabroek Sport yesterday.
“This year I am just focusing and trying to be consistent and I’m seeing the results,” he added.
Leal, the two Williams’, reigning national road race champion, Raynauth Jeffrey and Albert Philander also took home a sprint prize each.
Persaud (veteran) Leal (junior) and Richard Charles (mountain bike) also received tokens for winning their respective categories.
The Hassan Mohamed organized road race pedaled off at a fever pitch pace with Jeffrey, Leal and the two Williams’ leading the way.
These four riders worked in tandem and opened up a sizable lead until they were caught by the chase pack led by Hinds at Leonora on the upward journey.
On the downward journey at Uitvlugt, DeNobrega, Geron Williams and Jeffrey changed gears and formed a three-man lead pack but again the peloton led by Hinds wheeled them in about three miles from the finish.
At this point the race became quite exciting as several riders staged solo attacks with ambitions to take home the spoils.
Jeffrey and DeNobrega were the last to try with about 1000m to go but yet again Hinds along with the other top five cyclists wheeled them in 500m from the finish.
Blessed with superior strength, patience and stamina, Hinds then made his move and held off top sprinters Persaud and Leal by three bike lengths.
Notes:.Hinds won the 40-mile season opener on January 12 in Berbice then placed second to Marlon Williams and Junior Niles in the two signature National Park races before yesterday’s win. There were 51 starters for yesterday’s event
Mohamed intimated that the next event he organizes will also be staged on the roads of West Demerara this Sunday. The 40-mile event will be sponsored by R&R Enterprise.
