In the first race organised by the Guyana Cycling Federation (GCF), it was Team Cocos’ Jamaul John who emerged victorious from the relatively small pack of riders on Sunday, as the race concluded in front of the National Sports Commission, Homestretch Avenue.
With only 18 riders taking to the starting line, John rode into the finishing line solo, comfortably ahead of the others in a time of three hours, 20 minutes and 23 seconds (03:20:23).
Speaking with Guyana Times Sport at the end of the challenging race, John
President of the Guyana Cycling Federation Horace Burrowes
related that this was a great way to begin the season and that “he gave it his all”.
The wheelsmen began their journey from Homestretch Avenue then proceeded along Mandela Avenue before reaching the East Bank highway and further to the Linden/Soesdyke Highway, where they turned around at the Coca Cola sign, following the same route back to the starting line, which was also the finishing line.
During the return, John explained that the hardest part of the race was coming down the East Bank with the sun, but the rains came as the riders approached the Harbour Bridge junction, East Bank Demerara, and allowed the riders to be refreshed.
As John raced away from the pack, it was a close print from three men in the race for second as Team Evolution’s Paul De Nobrega piped Team Cocos Hamza Eastman in third and We Stand United Andrew Hicks in fourth.
In the Juniors category, it was We Stand United rider Brition John leading the group, ahead of Adeale Hodge in second and Marcus Keiler in third, while Leer Nunes lead the veterans, as he was trailed by Ian Jackson in second and Junior Niles in third.
President of the GCF, Horace Burrowes, speaking after the race, said it was a lovely turnout and indicated that this was just the beginning of what the Federation has to do for the year.
The GCF President further added that it was the confusion of Interim Management Committee and the Cycling Federation that was one of the causes that forced the season’s opener to happen in the February rather than in January.
According to Burrowes, the next event for GCF is expected to take place around April.
