Recording his first win of the year, young ‘We Stand United’ rider from the ancient county, Andrew Hicks made use of the familiar surroundings to secure the lead position in the first leg of the Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham Memorial Three-Stage race on Sunday.
This is also Hicks’ first victory since moving over to the senior division when the year began. Catching the early morning sun, the road race that was booked for
Andrew Hicks
Berbice began at 07:00h with the riders pedaling off from New Amsterdam with the largest turnout of the year, 56 riders taking up their mark to head to Rosehall Town and back.
18-year-old Hicks recorded the win in a time of one hour, three minutes and 34 seconds (01:03:34). He was trailed by Team Cocos’ pair Stephano “Sunny” Husbands and Hamza Eastman. Eastman has been producing some fine performances in the year as he has so far registered podium performances in almost all the cycling meets of the year to date.
Speaking with Guyana Times Sport after the race, Hicks was jubilated to win his first senior race and extended much thanks to his family who supported him and highlighted the familiarity with the condition that was key to his victory.
Fresh off his victory on Saturday, Team Evolution’s Paul De Nobrega finished in fourth place while We Stand United’s Raphael Leung secured 5th and Geron Williams finished 6th.
Meanwhile, the second stage will take place next Sunday (February 26) and will see riders resuming action at 07:00h pedaling at top speeds from the mining town, Linden to Georgetown.
The final stage will also be held the same day (February 26) from 14:00h when the wheelsmen will proceed from Georgetown to Belfield and return.
When the race began six years ago it was done in the form of only one stage before expanding to two stages four years later and it finally expanded to the stage it is now.
The winners will be rewarded with cash prizes for the 94th birth anniversary of the former president.
Last year it was Team Gillette Evolution who dominated the race with Raul Leal clocking in five hours, 54 minutes and five seconds for the top podium spot. He led his club mates, Marlon ‘Fishy’ Williams and Orville Hinds on the podium to underline their dominance.
He won the first stage in Berbice, placed fourth in the second stage (Linden to Home-stretch Avenue) and pedaled in second the final stage from the National Cultural Centre to Belfield and back to win.
