Local star cyclist, Briton John finished on the podium in the initial stage of the Jamaican Cycling Classic Montego Bay race yesterday.
The United We Stand Cycle Club biker finished third in the star studded peloton behind Hasani Hennis of Team AVR Racing of Anguilla and his Trinidadian teammate, Akil Campbell who finished in second.
John’s club mate, Horace Burrowes who is also competing, suffered a crash along with a few other riders which put paid to his chances of placing among the top riders. John, who is in top form having won the 23rd Annual Cheddi Jagan Memorial Rad Race in Berbice on Sunday last, exhibited excellent discipline to end third amongst riders from AVR Racing and 706P. Defending champion, Andy Scarano of 706P, a USA-based club had to settle for the fifth place in the five-man sprint home. According to reports, the top five had established a lead about 30 minutes into the race which they never relinquished as the cyclists worked amongst themselves to maintain the advantage. Hennis earned 23 points for winning the stage, Campbell tallied 17 points while John completed the podium with 12 points.
Chad Conley (8 points) 706P, Scarano (6 points) 706P, Andrew Ramsey (5 points) AVR Racing, along with teammates Jerome Forest (4 points), and Edwin Sutherland (3 points) took the other two positions. Burrowes shared that the second stage today would see both Guyanese riders consolidating whilst noting that John will continue to get better as the event continues as he is in prime shape and will challenge seriously for the top overall podium position.
