Elite sprinter, Marlon ‘Fishy’ Williams provided a reminder of his pedigree with victory in the men’s Time Trial yesterday.
In the first local competitive event since the COVID-19 pandemic shut down racing in mid-March, Williams was a class above the rest of the 33 starters, setting a time of 11m:18.39s on the flat 5-mile course.
In the Time Trial, riders started at Sparendaam, journeyed through Kitty, turned at the Roundabout and ended at the COVID-19 Hospital, Liliendaal.
Star cyclists, Jamual John (11:26.04) and Brighton John (11:38.70) joined Williams on the podium in the first of the three scheduled Time Trial events which was sponsored by Zoon Online Shopping, Star Party Rental, Professional Business Services and friends of Guyana’s cycling in the diaspora.
Marcus Keiler (11:47.26), Kwame Ridley (12:05.92) and Alex Mendes (12:09.61) rounded out the top six finishers.
Cyclists will now turn their attention to the next two stages in Berbice on Sunday and Linden on December 6. The top three of each Time Trial will be rewarded, along with the overall top six.
Organisers followed a strict anti-coronavirus protocol, with control measures in place including riders starting one by one two minutes apart and no roadside audience. All cyclists were required to take a temperature test and officials were equipped with face masks for distribution.
In an invited comment, President of the Guyana Cycling Federation, (GCF), Linden Dowridge stated that the federation and its cyclists “can breathe again” after a lengthy absence of competition.
He said he was happy to see to the return of competitive racing despite its limitations and was elated with the turnout which he envisions to be greater in Berbice and Linden.
