Briton John wins Berbice leg of Cheddi Jagan Memorial Cycling Road Race, after dominating last week’s leg

…to retain Berbice tittle

Briton John of United We Stand Cycle Club in a time of three hours, fifteen minutes and ten seconds (3:15:10) won the Berbice leg of 2024 Cheddi Jagan Memorial Cycling Road Race to add to his dominance in the first leg last week in Region Three.
The defending champion of the Berbice leg proved why he is one of the better cyclists currently despite not bettering his three hours, three minutes, and thirty-five seconds (3:03:35) which he set in Berbice last year.
John, who broke away from the peloton as he did last week at the halfway stage, was part of an initial breakaway of seven cyclists two miles into the 55-mile race.
The initial breakaway featured John, Curtis Dey, Paul Choonam, Alex Mendes, Aron Newton, Mario Washington and veteran Paul Persaud. However, John used his experience aided by the wind despite early challenges to ride the second half of the race solo to cross the finish line five minutes ahead of Dey, Choonam, and Alexander Logan, who came in after him in that order.

The fifth spot went to Mendes, with Newton rounding out the top six finishers.
Thirty-nine cyclists rode off from the starting point outside Freedom House at the corner of Main and Cheddi Jagan Streets in New Amsterdam when Region Six Chairman David Armogan downed the flag, to proceed to Number 62 Village on the Corentyne and then back, stopping at Port Mourant where the race ended.
The veteran category saw Choonam riding in ahead of Mendes, Roy Mangru, and Segun Husbands in that order.
For the juniors, Alexander Leung was first, with Sidwel Sandy second.
The over-50 category, in which the riders did not go past Port Mourant, was won by Ian Jackson ahead of Junior Niles and Raymond Newton in that order.
Niles and Newton, who have titles for the Berbice leg under their belts, have competed in all 27 editions of the event.
John copped two of the 10 sprint point prizes, with Persaud and Choonam also taking two each. The others went to Aron, Dey, Mendez, and Washington.
Meanwhile, the third leg of the event will be held on March 31, in Region Three. (G4)