Geron Williams continued his run of success on the local cycling circuit, winning a hectic, high-speed sprint that decided the David Granger victory road race yesterday in Berbice.
The U.S. based wheelsman timed his ‘bike chuck’ to perfection to win by a few centimetres ahead of Team Gillette Evolution’s Orville Hinds.
A resurgent Robin Persaud joined the duo on the podium after riding cerebrally.
It was Williams’ second consecutive victory after placing third at the National Road Race Championships two weeks ago.
He took pole positional at the CARICOM Day in the feature event of the ‘Wheat Up Classic’ which offered a vital rebound, then stretched his winning streak yesterday during the grueling, sun baked 60-mile race from Rose Hall to Springlands and back.
“Today was tough for me, the guys rode really well, this wasn’t a walk in the park, but I’m happy for the win” said Williams after the race.
There were several mini breaks on the upward and downward journeys but none sustained the relentless charge of the peloton.
Williams made hay in the sunshine along with the work horse Hinds, Shaquel Agard (fourth place) Hamza Eastman (fifth), Michael Anthony (sixth) and Chris Holder (seventh) when the supposed break of the day featuring Persaud, Paul DeNobrega, and Alonzo Ambrose was formed about 15 miles from the finish.
The trio rode spiritedly but their lead melted as the miles ticked down Only Persaud had the legs and desire to push on alone, forcing the peloton to work hard, but with Williams and Hinds leading the chase pack, the veteran rider smartly decelerated to save his legs for the finish.
As the final mile began, the peloton started to split apart again due to a series of attacks since each rider was confident of earning the victory.
The trend continued until a tireless Hinds found a second wind with about 400m from the line.
When he upped his speed, he quickly distanced everyone, leaving the rest of the peloton to fight for the placings but seemingly out of nowhere, Williams found another gear and edged his fellow national rider at the line.
At the presentation ceremony of the Flying Ace Cycle Club organized event, Nicolette Henry, Minister within the Ministry of Education Responsible for Culture, Youth and Sport thanked the cyclists for making the race a success and noted that “these events provide the ideal setting for discipline and development of the riders.
Brief remarks were also made by president of the Club, Randolph Roberts and patron of the Club, former New Amsterdam Mayor, Errol Alphonso.
