19-year-old Linden Bauxite Flyers’ Shaquel Agard stunned his opponents as he pedalled his way to the Guyana Cycling Federation, National Sports Commission’s National Three-Stage cycling title after finishing the third and final leg, a 30 lap race around the outer circuit of the National Park on Sunday.
The final leg got underway with the pack of riders moving along the paces immediately after a few words of encouragement and a promise of a better organised event come next year from the Director of Sport, Christopher Jones.
Heading into the final stage, Agard led the pack after taking the top spot in the second stage, a time trial sprint from Carifesta Avenue to Plaisance with a time of eight minutes, 42 seconds (00:08:42); third place in the first leg, a 65 mile road race from Carifesta Avenue to Mahaicony and back to the starting line (02:38:41); and finishing the final leg in a time of 01:53:05.
Linden’s Shaquel Agard is proud to have won with the likes of the top teams producing their bestThe top performers and officials pose for a photo
Agard’s total time was 04:40:25, 13 seconds faster than overall second, Team Gillette Evolution’s Michael Anthony (4:40:38), while Continental’s ‘Lone Rider’ Geron Williams finished third overall (04:40:52) and Alanzo Greaves fourth (04:41:30). Team Cocos Hamza Eastman (04:41:32) and one handed rider, Walter Grant Stuart completed the top six in a time of 04:42:37.
Speaking with Guyana Times Sport the young Lindener, who won gold in the 2014 Inter-Guiana Games said, “It was a great feeling to win this event, I feel great to have my name calling with National champion Geron Williams and former national Champion Hamza Eastman” attributing his success to his rigorous training as he would do sprints up the East Coast and back, as well as returning home to do ‘hill climbing’ in preparation for this event.
Looking back to the second stage, Agard humoured that he was surprised to actually win that stage and his plan heading into the final stage was to keep abreast with the top three riders.
Greaves, returning from a 12 month ban, showed why he is still one of the best riders in the country as he piped an in-form Eastman for the third stage first prize with both riders completing the circuit in 01:53:05.
Much controversy unfolded at the end of the race with mixed opinions of who was to be crowned the winner, even reverting to several footages to see the replay of what transpired. In the end, the officials declared Greaves, the winner gaining 10 seconds bonus as he piped Eastman (seven bonus seconds) by a tire’s hair, Anthony rode to third (1:58:05) while Agard’s fourth was enough to secure the title.
Greaves, speaking to this publication, said it was a long journey back coming off of his ban and started his preparation six months into the year, noting that he “did not do pretty well in the time trial but is back.”
Overall, the Veterans category was won by Raymond Newton (04:43:43), followed by Paul Choo Wee Nam (04:45:23) and Junior Niles (04:49:23) in second and third respectively.
Meanwhile in the Junior’s division, Christopher Cornelius (04:43:07), Andrew Hicks (04:43:38) and Raphael Leung (04:44:43) finished in that order.
