Marlon ‘Fishy’ Williams followed up his third stage victory on Friday by winning yesterday’s penultimate stage but Roraima Biker’s Alanzo Greaves still holds on to the leaders’ jersey.
Despite Williams’ heroic solo riding in the Cinderella County, Greaves, who placed second yesterday, will roll into the hills of Linden this morning with a 26-second lead on his fellow national rider.
National road race champion, Geron Williams is Greaves’ closest rival just eight seconds adrift while Robin Persaud lurks with intent just 10 seconds off the lead.
Marlon Williams, who entered the stage fourth overall (one minute and 32 seconds behind Greaves) gained some valuable ground after winning the grueling, sunbaked stage from Supenaam to Charity to Suddie.
The talented wheelsman clocked two hours, 36 minutes and 53 seconds for the 62-mile trek to shrink Greaves’ lead under a half a minute with 60 miles to go.
Today’s final leg of the eighth annual ‘Ride for Life’ five-stage road race from Kara Kara to Homestretch Avenue should be very interesting.
The fourth stage started off at a moderate pace with the peloton rolling along at about 30kms to the hour.
At about 10 miles after the start, a series of attacks begun with several sets of riders.
However with each breakaway, the cyclists in the main peloton would quickly reconnect with the lead pack.
About six miles before the turn back point at Charity, Marlon Williams transformed into time trial mode (riding solo at 38kms to the hour) and opened up a lead which ballooned to more than a minute.
Despite the valiant effort of the chasers who were throttling at 45kms an hours at one point and the windy conditions, the tireless Williams held on to win the stage.
Greaves, Geron Williams, Persaud, DeNobrega, Scott Savoury and most of the pack rode in one minute and three seconds behind in a fierce bunch sprint won by the race leader.
Here is the top six placings overall heading into today’s final stage.
1st Alanzo Greaves (7h: 39m: 02s)
2nd Geron Williams (7:39:10)
3rd Robin Persaud (7:39:12)
4th Marlon Williams (7:39:28)
5th Paul DeNobrega (7:41:54)
6th Scott Savoury (7:42:25)
Race time is 08:30hrs.
