Trinidad and Tobago’s Enrique De Comarmond completed the double after a phenomenal solo ride to the finish line and secured the Junior Road Race title while Puerto Rico’s Derex Segarra outsprinted Time Trial champion, Alexander Miller for the Juvenile division title when the 13th Annual Junior Caribbean Cycling Championship concluded in the green town of Bartica yesterday.
Battling the scorching sun but motivated by the jubilant crowd and a refreshing rain on the final lap, De Comarmond cemented his place in history when he completed the 10-lap course which started at Second Avenue and Third Street, headed east into Third Street, South into Sixth Avenue, through the old housing scheme, into the Bartica Potaro Road, turned around at Three Miles Secondary school, came down to One Mile, took a right into the Arcade, a right into Sixth Street then north into Second Avenue before finishing at Sixth Street junction in a time of two hours, 30 minutes and 22 seconds (02:30:22).
Guyana-born Rene Gayual, riding under the Antigua and Bermuda flag was out the blocks in a hurry, taking an almost 90-second lead from the pack after the first lap but by the fourth lap, De Comarmond took control of the race and never looked back.
However, De Comarmond had his work cut out for him with St. Martin’s Kianny Noel never letting up the chase to secure second, 11 seconds behind while Nicholas Nakkaway fended off two Puerto Rican riders who were eventually dropped in the final lap to secure the bronze in 02:34:05.
After the race, De Comarmond said: “Well, the race started off pretty easy, three guys went off to the front and I told the group to pull it together slowly because guys were attacking and wasting their energy so we just worked it through so when it was one guy at the front I told my teammates to help block for me and then before the first guy I chose a climb and took the lead.”
In the Juvenile division, Segarra, who finished second in the Time Trial, Saturday, outsprinted Miller who won the Time Trial, to secure a rewarding gold when he completed the seven-lap race in 01:48:34 with Miller taking silver by a second. United States Virgin Islands’ Michael Dizon-Bumann rode a good race to end third, a second behind Miller.
Segarra, who doesn’t speak English but managed to have his teammate, Jareeier Laureano translate, said “The race was really strong and we did a lot of moves, we worked really well as a team and provided that space to make it what we wanted to get the gold medal.”
Segarra, who only began his career eight years ago added “They start attacking in the climbs and that was when I started feeling good…I was really strong in the sprint and I made it count.”
Nevertheless, Humphrey’s Bakery, Universal Auto and General Supplies, Industrial Safety Supplies Inc., Chin Chan Cycle Store, Dexter Sealey Transportation Service, Sasha Persaud Transportation Service, the Mayor of Bartica, Showers of Blessings Bus Service, Professional Key Service and Vish Narine, the championship was made possible.
