Geron Williams rode his brilliant best and defied all odds to claim the national title in a time of 2 hours 42 minutes and 44 seconds when the Guyana Cycling Federation (GCF) rolled off their national road race championship of 2016 yesterday on the outer circuit of the National park.
Williams came into the race under the radar amidst public and media hype of a show down between riders from team Evolution and team Coco. The Continental rider who is benefitting from competitive racing and training abroad gave his competitors and onlookers very little wonder as he made his intentions very clear from the onset. The much touted overseas based Scott Savory suffered the agony of puncture during the very first lap of the 30 laps race as Williams surprisingly took a strangle hold on the race very early as he was involved in an early breakaway with team Coco’s Stephona Husbands and Jamaul John. The trio rode unchallenged for approximately five (5) laps increasing the lead to as much as 1 minute and 32 seconds and never seemed to be threatened by the main peloton. The entire dynamics of the race was however changed in the eleventh lap when Husbands suffered a puncture and the relentless pressure of defending champion Hamza Eastman begun to pay off as he used the opportunity to slip into third place.
from left – Stephona Husbands, Geron Williams and Raynauth Jeffrey, being congratulated by Christopher Jones
After various lead changes and some cat and mouse riding, the decisive moment of the race was made in the nineteenth lap as Geron Williams and Saturday’s Time Trial winner Raynauth Jeffrey of team Coco took the lead and never looked back. The duo was able to create a lead over the trio of Stepheno Husbands, Jamaul John and Linden’s Michael Anthony of Team Evolution. The hundreds of supporters were in high anticipation for an exciting finish as Williams and Jeffrey continued to pressed on, however, it was no surprise to cycling pugilist as to who would be the likeliest of winner as William’s superior sprinting ability would pay dividend. Nineteen year old Husbands who showed strength throughout was able to from distance himself from the others to ride in unchallenged for a comfortable third.
Williams described the win as one of the biggest of his career considering the field he was up against and credited the win mainly to his family and sponsors DeSinco Trading and their Degree brand.
Jeffrey was not disappointed with his second place finish and when asked said that he probably should have attacked more strongly with about 10 laps remaining as he is not the strongest in the sprint finish.
Husbands said that his third place finish among the top cyclist was very important as his rigid three (3) months training in Colombia would have paid off.
Acting president of the GCF Paul Choo-Wee-Nam was satisfied with the level of competition and the general outcome of the event. He noted that federation is planning to send four junior cyclists to St. Lucia for the upcoming junior championship.
Director of Sports Christopher Jones was present to declare the race start and also assisted with the presentation of medals to the various winners.
