Junior star cyclists, Jamal John and Raphael Leung proved that they can not only hang with the big boys, but they can also beat them.
Yesterday, the pair of 18-year olds bested a field of Guyana’s premier wheelsmen to cart off the spoils of the 13th annual Victor Macedo Road Race.
The two riders, who were scheduled to represent Guyana at the Junior Caribbean Cycling Championships last month, showed stamina and grit throughout the gruelling 80-mile trek from Georgetown to Linden and back.
John, (three primes) the eventual race winner, and Leung (four primes) who was adjudged second, then displayed their sprinting abilities on Homestretch Avenue in a thrilling two-man photo finish.
The teens, who have been consistent on the local circuit this season, finished the sun-baked trek in three hours, nine minutes and 51 seconds, leading Team Alanis’ Paul DeNobrega onto the podium some three minutes behind.
Orville Hinds, Andrew Hicks, Akeem Wilkinson, Shaquel Agard and Silvio Inniss filled out the top eight paid positions.
Race notes: John and Leung were part of an eight-man break that was established at Eccles on the upward journey.
The group then rode together until the first toll station on the Linden/Soesdyke High-way. At this point, Leung changed gears and attacked his break away mates. Only John gave chase and soon after he connected with Leung.
The two then rode in tandem to hold off several disorganized chase packs.
As they neared the finish line however, team work was expectedly thrown out the window with John rising from his saddle.
This prompted Leung to follow and the two cyclists put on a tireless duel of sprinting but in the end, John had enough left in the tank to record his third win of the season albeit by a wheel. (Emmerson Campbell)
Quick Results
Top eight overall
Jamal John
Raphael Leung
Paul DeNobrega
Orville Hinds,
Andrew Hicks
Akeem Wilkinson
Shaquel Agard
Silvio Inniss
Juniors
Jamal John
Raphael Leung
Andrew Hicks
Veteran
Warren ’40’ McKay
Ian Jackson
Jaikarran Sukhai
Mountain Bike
Keon Thomas
Ozia McAulay
Seon Budhan
