National cycling Champion, Geron Williams is the latest Guyanese to travel overseas and participate in a United States competition when he entered the Joe Martin four Stage meet, hosted in Fayetteville, Arkansas from March 30 to April 2.
Geron Williams was the only Guyanese in the prestigious 4-stage race
The first stage, in the Devil’s Den State Park, Arkansas, a 4.8km route saw Williams finishing in 144th position as he settled himself into the conditions of the USA while the second stage saw the Foundation rider close in the gap and leap frog his competition into the 96th position. This time the track was the Fayetteville course of a distance of 176.8KM.
However, in the third leg Williams unfortunately did not finish and consequently did not compete in the fourth leg.
The Joe Martin Stage Race is a 4-day, 4-stage professional men and women’s cycling race along with a 2-day, 3-stage amateur stage race held in early spring each year in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
The year 2017 marked the 40th anniversary of the amateur races; 15th anniversary on the USA Cycling Pro Racing Tour (PRT) and 3rd year to be on the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) America Tour calendar.
“Being able to celebrate 40 years of any event, especially this race, speaks a lot about the community, the racers, and the fans that come and support it”, said Bruce Dunn, Race director and owner of All Sports Productions, Inc.
The Joe Martin Stage Race is part of both the USAC Pro Racing Tour (PRT) which is the pro and elite amateur cycling tour of USA Cycling and the UCI America Tour. USA Cycling is the national governing body of cycling operating under the United States Olympic Committee. The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) is the world governing body for the sport of cycling recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Over 750 athletes and teams from 27 countries and all 50 states attended the race.
