Williams beats star studded field to win inaugural LeZo Imports feature event

In searing heat yesterday at the National Park Team Roraima’s, Marlon ‘Fishy’ Williams showed fine form win and cash in on the 30-lap prime prized littered event.

Displaying tenacity, grit and sprinting speed that would make Mark Cavendish proud, Williams shrugged off the challenges of a star-studded field and the heroic riding of junior star cyclist, Michael Anthony, to emerge winner of the inaugural LeZo Imports and Online Shopping sponsored criterium event.

Testament to his dominant riding, besides the winner’s purse, the national cyclist also pocketed 14 of the 30 prime prizes.

 Marlon Williams (left) edging out Michael Anthony for the win in a thrilling sprint finish. (Orlando Charles photo)
Marlon Williams (left) edging out Michael Anthony for the win in a thrilling sprint finish. (Orlando Charles photo)

He led Anthony, who snared 13 prime prizes and fellow national rider, Alanzo Greaves, onto the podium in the lucrative event.

The evergreen Godfrey Pollydore, Team Coco’s Raynauth Jeffrey and Team United’s Mario King filled out the top six paid positions.

After Jeffrey took the first two primes, it was all Anthony and Williams.

Anthony went on a solo break in the fifth lap and cashed in on primes until Williams changed gears and connected with him in the 10th lap after attacking the chase peloton.

The two wheelsmen then rode in tandem to hold off the valiant efforts of the chasers.

In the ensuing laps under the scorching sun, cyclists in the peloton began to exit the circuit retreating to the oasis of the grass mounds.

With Williams and Anthony up front pocketing prime prizes lap after lap, the third to sixth place earnings were the only incentives that kept the remaining seven cyclists on their saddles.

As the bell chimed for the final lap, cycling enthusiasts wondered out loud whether Anthony or Williams would take the top podium spot as the both seemed content on riding like Siamese twins.

The prize winners of yesterday’s LeZo Imports and Online Shopping sponsored event. (Orlando Charles photo)
The prize winners of yesterday’s LeZo Imports and Online Shopping sponsored event. (Orlando Charles photo)

That was not the case.

Team work was thrown out the window with 200m to go as both riders rose from their saddles and turned on the jets.

However, the more experienced and tireless Williams was able to hold off his break away mate in a thrilling finish that came down to the wire by a wheel.

 Notes: There were prime prizes for each lap of the event. The race which started and ended in front of the Children’s Monument attracted 33 riders.

CEO of LeZo Imports and Online Shopping, Enzo Matthews noted that he will sponsor night races on Wednesdays starting from mid-month. (Emmerson Campbell)