Team Evolution once again defied the odds to occupy the first three places in yesterday’s 50-mile pre-Father’s Day road race at West Demerara.
Father’s Day will be celebrated this Sunday.
The club’s most successful wheelsman, Orville Hinds placed first in the 16th edition of the Guyoil/Castrol sponsored event while his club mates Michael Anthony and Raul Leal completed the podium in the race which rolled off at Wales, proceeded to Bushy Park and ended at Schoonord.
Hinds, Anthony and Leal also swept the podium spots in that exact order in the Independence Three-Stage road race two weeks ago.
Despite the overcast conditions and the heavy winds, Hind, 25, won the event in one hour and 55 minutes, some 17 seconds faster than last year’s winning time set by Raynauth Jeffrey.
Yesterday, Team Coco’s Jamal John and Junior Niles placed fourth and fifth respectively while United Bike Shop’s Raphael Leung filled out the top six paid positions.
The race started off at a fast clip with the 35 starters jostling for the lead.
Leal, however, got himself into a nine-man breakaway which was formed at La Grange on the upward journey. After a frantic first hour of racing which saw the riders averaging over 30 km/h, the breakaway pack was finally caught at Leonora on the downward journey by Anthony who made an attack from the peloton.
Soon after, Hinds joined the leaders who had shed a number of its original riders.
Anthony caught a second wind and attacked as Hinds pursued. The two tireless teammates then found another gear and their lead ballooned with every powerful turn of the pedals.
Hinds and Anthony never relinquished the lead and the duo cruised home more than a minute ahead of Leal and John who in contrast sprinted in to a photo finish. Leal was declared third by the slimmest of margins after a video review.
Hinds has been on a tear this year, winning four races while placing in the top six 14 times. (Emmerson Campbell)
Quick Results
Open
Orville Hinds
Michael Anthony
Raul Leal
Jamal John
Junior Niles
Raphael Leung
Juniors
Jamal John
Raphael Leung
Andrew Hicks
Mountain Bikers
Deeraj Garbarran
Seon Budhan
Michael Holder
Veteran
Junior Niles
Shameer Bashk
Talim Shaw
