Cyclists Junior Niles and Akeem Wilkinson proved to be in a class by themselves when they rode off with the top two spots of the 46-mile Diamond Mineral Water Road Race, held on Sunday from Schoonord, West Bank Demerara to Parika, East Bank Essequibo, and back to commencement point.
Junior Niles celebrates outsprinting Akeem Wilkinson to win the 20th Diamond Mineral Water Road Race
In this 20th staging of the event, Niles outsprinted Wilkinson in the final stretch to stop the clock at one hour, 41 minutes and 25.47seconds (1:41:25.47s), but Wilkinson was right there behind him!
These two riders outdid an aggressively approaching peloton by at least a minute.
In emerging triumphant, Niles made off with two prime prizes, while Wilkinson and Deeraj Garbarran each claimed two prime prizes as well.
Niles’s performance also earned him the top Veteran title, with McKay in second and Alexis Mendes in third.
Deeraj Garbarran edged out Paul DeNobrega in a fiery showdown to the finish for third, while Michael Anthony was fifth, and Warren ‘40’ McKay claimed the final rewarding spot.
Adealie Hodge finished as the top Junior-rider, while Emmanuel Gayral was second and Briton John came in third. In the Mountain Bike category, Ozia McAully successfully defended his title, while Jamal Cappel and Talim Shaw copped the second and third place spots.
Linden Blackman, Guyana’s oldest competing athlete, of course finished the race, and was rewarded for his effort.
Prior to the presentation of prizes, organizer Hassan Mohamed made a few remarks, in which he thanked the Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) for their involvement in cycling, and said it has been a fruitful partnership that has spanned two decades.
In the Mountain Bike category, Ozia McAully successfully defended his title, while Jamal Cappel and Talim Shaw copped the second and third place spots.
