Guyanese rider Raynaught “Obeah Man” Jeffrey closed off the Sunshine Grand Prix (GP) with his best placing of the event, finishing sixth in the time trial race which concluded on Sunday in Florida, USA.
With only one race for the season before heading in to the Professional 1-2 group of the Sunshine GP, Jeffrey found it difficult to adjust immediately after travelling from New York to Miami and entered into the Inverness Airport Criterion race on March 31, where he placed 14th out of 31 starters in a time of one hour, 11 minutes and 25 seconds. Brandon Feehery won the event.
Guyanese Raynaught “Obeah Man” Jeffrey leads the pack round a turn in Florida, USA
This leg marked a 1.7 KM route in the Inverness Highlands with a total assent of 7.97m and a maximum elevation of 25.9m.
Speaking to Guyana Times Sport after returning to his homeland on Monday, Jeffrey said he “found it difficult to adjust for the first race because New York was so cold and Florida was very hot.”
However, after the first race, the 22 year old rider was still not accustomed to the conditions and managed to place 29th in the second Criterion, this time in Brooksville, Florida on April 1.
The third race was of much more success for the Guyanese wheelsman where he battled the odds to place 11th out of a 35-man pack to finish the Ice Cream Hill road race in a time of two hours, two minutes and eight seconds. The 29.66 KM ride has a total assent of 112.6m with an 82.3m elevation as well as heavy winds, according to Jeffrey.
The final event, a time trial was Jeffrey’s most successful as he finished sixth in the 12km Power Hill challenge in a time of just 18 minutes.
Jeffrey said the exposure that he has gotten from the tour was one of the most memorable of late and looks forward to capitalize of more international meets for the development of his career.
Upon his arrival, Jeffrey is immediately thrown into the mix and is already a rider for discussion in the other camps as he sets his sights on the 6th annual Baker’s memorial road race this Sunday in the mining town of Linden.
In Florida, a total of 820 riders started the event which signaled a much more experienced list of campaigners in all the categories as Jeffrey, who turned out for Pharmco-Deepsouth racing team finished thirteenth. Jeffrey’s top placement however, was the second best for his team as Emile Abraham finished in 12th.
Overall it was Emon Franck of Crit Life who was crowned the overall champion in the pro 1-2 category.
