Amid a peloton full of quality cyclists, Jamual John rode excellently yesterday to make a return to the top step of the podium, clinching first place in the Senior Category of the 20th edition of the Ricks & Sari 46-mile Cycling Road Race.
Jamual, with the win, broke his namesake, Briton John’s monopoly on the local cycling scene. A longstanding rivalry, the race from Schoonord, West Bank Demerara, to Ruby, East Bank Essequibo, and back, saw another close fight between the two, but in the end, it was Jamual who persevered.
He crossed the line in 1 hour and 40 minutes, 26 seconds ahead of Briton, while KFC Evolution’s Cortis Dey settled for third place.
Dey’s fellow clubmates Christopher Griffith, Aaron Newton, and Alex Newton would all occupy the other top six spots in that exact order.
It was a day for changing norms as Alex Newton won the Junior category ahead of usual favourite Alexander Leung, who finished second this time around. Jaime Kennedy, on the other hand, took third place.
Alex Mendes rolled back the years to clinch the top spot in the Master’s U-50 category, finishing ahead of Paul Chooweenam and Segun Hubbard, who were second and third in that exact order.
Mark Spencer was the first to cross the finish line in the O-50 Master’s category, with Ian Jackson and Talim Sawh occupying second and third, respectively.
In the Mountain Bike class, Sawh took top honours as Keon Thomas and Julio Melville came in second and third position.
Once again, Abigail Jeffrey was the only female cyclist.
Meanwhile, in the newly returned Category 4 class, Devenand Bissoon outgunned Mark St. Claire to win that race, with the latter settling for second. The third podium spot was taken by Carlos Mendonca.
Of the 8 Primes (sprint prizes) on offer throughout the 46-mile course, Aaron Newton, Briton John, and Alex Mendes took one each, while Chooweenam and Ridley won three and two, respectively.
The race, in its 20th edition, is held to honour the death anniversary of the late Regan Rodrigues, founder of the Ricks and Sari Agro Company. (Michelangelo Jacobus)
