While many were playing with water and powder at various venues, star cyclist, Romello Crawford made hay during the sunny Phagwah weekend on his saddle with back-to-back victories.
Two days after winning the feature 35-lap event of the Diamond Mineral Water criterium fixture in the National Park, Crawford took his talents to the open roads of Berbice and once again dominated a field of Guyanese premier wheelsmen.
Crawford, 18, powered to a narrow sprint victory to take the spoils of yesterday’s Benjamin Sports Store 50-mile race.
The Trojan PCL rider completed the sunbaked trek from Fyrish to No. 51 Village and back in a scorching one hour, 47 minutes and 56 seconds.
His photo finish win ahead of his breakaway mates, Paul DeNobrega, Hamza Eastman, Geron Williams, Shaquel Agard and Jamal John sent the partisan crowd which lined the streets into a frenzy as they jumped and screamed in celebration for the hometown rider.
Prior to Crawford’s heroics at the finish, John who snared five of the eight sprint prizes was the star of the event.
The Team Coco’s standout led an initial three-man break which included DeNobrega and Silvio Innis.
With John carrying the tempo, three riders rode together until Eastman and the rest of the top six reconnected at the turn back point.
The disorganized effort of the peloton enabled the leaders to create more separation after more high pacing from John and the others who worked as a team.
Mile after mile, the lead of the riders became unassailable as they stuck to script of working in tandem.
The script however flipped once the checkered flag was in eyesight.
As expected, about 200m from the line, teamwork was thrown out the window and the riders rose from their saddles and throttled up to the line.
However, a tireless Crawford, with the fans screaming “come on Melo, come on Melo” seemed to find another gear and crossed the finish line in pole position.
Note: The cycling event coincided with the opening ceremony of the Benjamin’s Fitness Centre, a 5k athletic race and exhibition boxing matches.
Quick Results
Seniors
Romello Crawford
Paul DeNobrega
Hamza Eastman
Geron Williams
Shaquel Agard
Jamal John
Veterans
Junior Niles
Ian Jackson
Jaikarran Sukhai
Mountain Bike
Ozia McAulay
Keon Thomas
Julio Melville
Female
Deance Welch
Shenika Teixeira
Nayanzo Poyer.
