After placing second last week in Berbice, Michael Anthony took his talents to the roadways of West Demerara yesterday and sprinted off with the spoils of the 11th Reagan Rodrigues Memorial 50-mile event.
The Team Gillette Evolution wheelsman bested Team Coco’s Jamal John in a thrilling two-man sprint finish to snap Robin Persaud’s win streak of the event. Prior to yesterday, Persaud had won the annual road race on three consecutive occasions.
The starters ensured he did not succeed yesterday.
Akeem Wilkinson (Team Gillette Evolution) joined his teammate and John on the podium while Stephano Husbands (Team Coco’s), Alonzo Ambrose (Team Alanis) and Kravitz Jeffrey (United Bike Shop) filled out the top six paid positions.
Besides the winner’s trophy, Anthony bagged half of the eight sprint prizes along the trek which he completed in a brisk one hour, 56 minutes and 34 seconds, some 16 seconds better than Persaud’s winning time last year.
John, one of Guyana’s four representatives at the upcoming Caribbean Junior Championship in the Dominican Republic, pocketed the remaining sprint prizes, testament to the two-man domination of the 40-strong peloton yesterday.
The race which rolled off at Wales, proceeded to Bushy Park and returned to Schoonord for the finish was over at Vreed-en-Hoop on the upward journey.
Anthony and John attacked and the peloton failed to promptly respond giving the duo enough time to create enough separation with every powerful turn of their pedals.
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The two-man unit then rode in tandem to maintain their lead despite a series of attacks by several disorganized chase packs.
With the finish line in sight however, John threw team work out the window, rose from his saddle and attacked his break away mate. But Anthony, a superior sprinter, turned on the jets and blew by the Team Coco’s standout to record his fifth victory of the season.
Following the event, members of the late Rodrigues’ family, along with staff members of Ricks and Sari Agro Industries assisted in the presentation of prizes and food hampers.
Note: The race is held in memory of Rodrigues, the founder of the Carlton Wheelers club and former president of the Guyana Cycling Federation. (Emmerson Campbell)
Meet Summary
Seniors
Michael Anthony
Jamal John
Akeem Wilkinson
Stephano Husbands
Alonzo Ambrose
Kravitz Jeffrey
Juniors
Jamal John
Raphael Leung
Chris Goring
Veteran
Junior Niles
Warren ’40’ McKay
Leer Nunes
Mountain Bikes
Keon Budhan
Nicholas Alphonso
Seon Budhan
Female
Whitney Poyer
Over-60
Walter Isaacs
