- Overseas-based Guyanese has slim two-second lead over Niles after two stages of Independence cycle road race

By Calvin Roberts

Overseas based Guyanese Godfrey Pollydore has taken a slim two (2) seconds lead over Junior Niles after two of three stages in the 26th Annual Independence cycle road race sponsored by the National Sports Commission (NSC) and organized by national cycling coach Hassan Mohammed were completed yesterday.

Riding in overcast conditions, Pollydore, who placed fifth in the first stage, rode a brilliant race to place second in the second stage from Rosignol to Carifesta Avenue behind Gordon Kennedy who won in  2:38:28.

With the absence of defending champion, Guy Costa, along with the poor showing of six-time champion Dwayne Gibbs, (troubled by an upset stomach) Pollydore’s  overall time is 4:21:45 after he clocked 2:38:39 for the second stage, the same as Niles  who two seconds behind him overall.
After being sent on their way by Region Five chairman Harrinarine Baldeo, Junior Niles  and Virgil Jones surged  to the front and kept a 50-metre lead before being wheeled in by the peloton which included Gibbs, Pollydore, Warren Mc Kay, Robin Persaud and Alonzo Greaves and as they approached D’Edward Village in West Berbice.

Mc Kay, Niles and Tyrone Hamilton then made their move to the front and increased  the lead from 100 metres to close to 1500 meters all the way to the village of Onverwagt. …..