Andrew Hicks is the virtual leader of the Burnham Memorial Three-Stage road race following the initial leg in Berbice yesterday.
The 18-year old WS United standout will roll into the hills of Linden for the second leg Sunday with a three-second lead on Team Coco’s Stephano Husbands.
Berbician Hicks, stopped the clock in one hour, three minutes and 34 seconds for the 36-mile stage which rolled off in New Amsterdam, proceeded to Rose Hall and returned to the point of origin for the finish.
Husbands’ club mates, Hamza Eastman and Jamal John lurk in third and fourth positions respectively while national road race champion, Geron Williams sits in fifth.
Hicks and Husbands were part of an eight-man break which was established on the Canje Bridge on the upward journey.
The eight-strong unit rode as a team, interchanging the high pacing to stretch and maintain their lead from the rest of the 53 starters.
Husbands, however, threw team work out the window about two miles from the finish. As his teammates sat back, Hicks gave chase and caught up with Husbands soon after.
The two cyclists then had a duel for the chequered flag and the finish line fast in sight.
Encouraged by the chants of his name however, the home town kid had enough left in the tank and found another gear to stun Husbands and take the stage win by a wheel.
The second bunch made up several elite wheelsmen is just 37 seconds off the lead.
The memorial event is far from over with the grueling second and third stages six days away.
In the morning, stage two starts in Linden and finishes on Homestretch Avenue, while the finale commences on Homestretch Avenue, proceeds to Belfield and returns to the start line for the conclusion. See you there. (Emmerson Campbell)
