Alanzo Greaves kicked off the 2017 cycling season in fine style yesterday, winning the feature 35-lap event of the 24th annual Ricks and Sari Agro Industries multi-race programme.
In perfect conditions for racing at the National Park, Greaves, of Roraima Bikers Club, won in a brisk one hour, 18 minutes and 10 seconds despite suffering two punctures on the circuit.
Decked out in a crisp black and red team kit, Greaves led his break away mates, Alonzo Ambrose and Marlon ‘Fishy’ Williams onto the podium while Jamal John, Shaquel Agard and Silvio Inniss rounded out the top six rewarding positions.
“It’s the first win for the season and I feel excited,” said the national wheelsman who is looking forward to more wins as the seasons progresses.
The cycling standout revealed yesterday that “The target is to win at least 25 races this season. I did a lot of training on the bike along with a lot of gym work in the offseason and I’m hoping it translates to wins.”
Greaves, Ambrose and Williams were part of an eight-man break that moved away from the main bunch in the second lap. However, soon after Greaves suffered a rear wheel puncture but showed grit and a high level of fitness to reconnect with the leaders.
The eight wheelsmen then rode in tandem to preserve their lead for much of the remainder of the fixture. However with two laps to go, Greaves and Ambrose changed gears, a move which proved to be the winning one but not without some hiccups.
Unbeknownst to Ambrose, Greaves suffered a front wheel puncture but not wanting to wait and sprint on a flat wheel, he attacked Ambrose with about a half mile to go and was rewarded with the spoils of the season opener by grinding forward with each powerful turn of the pedals.
With the win, Greaves picked up right where he left off after biking to victory in last season’s finale last November.
Before the signature event of the programme organized by Hassan Mohamed, there were eight other events.
The winners were:
Romello Crawford (Juveniles, 10 laps)
Shane Bourne (Mountain Bike)
Thuran Garbarran (BMX 12-14 Years, 3 laps)
Ronaldo Narine (BMX 12-14 Boys and Girls)
Warren McKay (Veteran’s Under-50 Years (5laps)
Andrew Spencer (Veteran’s Over-50 Years, 5 laps)
Gerard Barrington (BMX Boys 6-9 Years, 2laps)
Alex Leung (BMX Boys 9-12 Years, 3laps)
