Thirty cyclists took to the starting line on Saturday for the 26th annual R&R 11 race cycling meet where Team Gillette Evolution’s Paul De Nobrega continued his fine form to win the featured 35-lap school boys and invitational race when the National Park’s inner circuit was transformed to the wheelsmen’s playground.
Taking the Hassan Mohamed-organised race in a time of one hour 15 minutes and 19 seconds (01:15:19), De Nobrega along with Team Cocos’ Hamza Eastman and Linden Bauxite Flyers’ Shaquel Agard broke away from the pack early on as the three riders controlled the pace throughout the race.
The winners of the R&R cycling take a photo opportunity to display their prizes
It was a constant back and forth between Eastman and Agard as they exchanged first and third while De Nobrega held firm in second position and patiently waited until the final few laps to raise up from his saddle to take over the race. Once he took the lead, it was no turning back.
In the end, it was Eastman who took the second spot while Agard joined them on the podium in third position. Team Cocos’ club mate Jamaul John notched up a good performance to come in fourth while We Stand United’s Andrew Hicks and Team Evolution’s Michael Anthony copped fifth and sixth respectively.
Speaking with Guyana Times Sport after the race, De Nobrega said it was all part of his plans for the year, distancing himself from the negatives and focus on winning. He noted that he was without his trainer for quite some time but is now together once more, with the results are showing.
“This year I plan to start cycling back seriously and I am back with my coach Wayne Henry from Canada. I now started back to get some mileage with him and so far I am getting results,” De Nobrega said while adding that he has always shared success with the coach.
The champion rider went on to say that he paced his race well and it was the mindset that he could out sprint the others if and when it came down to that for him to take home the win.
Also in the thick of things was Team Evolution’s golden boy, Raul Leal who has recovered from injury and is back on the saddle.
Though Leal did not position in the race, he indicated to this publication that in about one month’s time he will be back to winning ways. Back in 2016, Leal was part of a motorcycle accident that took months off his career.
The other racers to be awarded for their outstanding performances by the representative of R&R international Ltd. Were Kenwyne Collins in the 12-14 years boys and girls three lap. He was followed by David Hicks and Tomar Holigar in second and third respectively.
In the Under 50 five lap sprint, Ian Jackson led the pack ahead of Horace Burrowes and Lennox Jackman in second and third respectively in a time of 11:49:69 while in the Over-50 category five lap, Andrew Spencer won as Linden Blackman (2nd) and Kennard Lovell (3rd) completed the podium positions.
Romello Crawford won the Juvenile race, trailed by Cutis Dey and Briton John in second and third in that order with a time of 21:36:87 for the 10 lap race.
Wayne Nurse won the mountain bike five lap race ahead of Ryan Canterbury while Ajanic Cutting, Antonio Vanderburg and Raul Crawford finished first to third in the BMX boys 6-9 years two lap.
Meanwhile, after the completion of the race, President of the Guyana Cycling Federation Horace Burrowes addressed the gathering with some good news. Burrowes indicated that he will contribute $20,000 for the inclusion of a Mountain Bike category in the Forbes Burnham Memorial 3-Stage which pedals off today. The race begins in New Amsterdam and heads to Rosehall before returning for the finish.
