Jeffrey’s dominance complete with back-to-back victories

He’s back!

A stunning, long-range sprint victory yesterday on Homestretch Avenue made one thing pellucidly clear. Raynauth Jeffrey is back and then some.

One day after lapping the field in the feature 35-lap event of the Hand-in-Hand Insurance fixture in the National Park, Jeffrey took his talents to the open roads and literally sprinted off with the top honours of the fourth Kadir Mohamed Memorial 80-mile road race, an ounce of Guyana’s famous raw gold.

Jeffrey’s victory in the sun-baked trek was a gem. Before leading Alanzo Greaves and Raul Leal onto the podium in a dominant wire-to-wire fashion, the Team Coco’s standout pocketed four of the 10 sprint prizes hammering the pedals along the way.

Back to Back! Team Coco’s Raynauth Jeffrey triumphantly crosses the line ahead of Alanzo Greaves to win the Kadir Mohamed ounce of gold event yesterday, capping a flawless weekend for the national rider. (Orlando Charles photo)
Back to Back! Team Coco’s Raynauth Jeffrey triumphantly crosses the line ahead of Alanzo Greaves to win the Kadir Mohamed ounce of gold event yesterday, capping a flawless weekend for the national rider. (Orlando Charles photo)

He completed the grueling road race from Georgetown to Dora (Linden Highway) in a scorching three hours, 12 minutes and 28 seconds.

But he was well rewarded with the ounce of gold which is worth approximately $236,000. It was surely a great weekend for the man in the crisp neon green team kit who recently returned from training in high altitude Colombia and competitions in the USA and the Tour of Tobago.

“It’s great to be back and winning and I am proving that I am fit and healthy,” said Jeffrey, who broke his collar bone while training earlier in the season.

After winning the most lucrative one-day event on the local cycling calendar, the national rider added:“Today was a good day and I am looking forward to the Digicel race and the Tour of Guyana.

“I must also thank my teammates for the support they have given me.”

Jeffrey and Greaves were part of a four-man unit that broke away from the peloton at the Demerara Harbour Bridge on the upward journey.

The four wheelsmen maintained a 20-second lead on the chase pack all the way to the turn back point on the Linden Highway.

However, at Long Creek, Jeffrey attacked and was only pursued by Greaves who was later joined by Leal and Berbician, Andrew Hicks.

This hard working lead pack was never caught as they rode in tandem to stave off the chasers. Jeffrey though knew that Greaves is a superior sprinter and used the strategy of attacking him continuously on the downward journey.

With 400m from the finish the four leaders were still bunched up and it was anyone’s race to take. But 50 metres later a tireless Jeffrey rose from his saddle, changed gears and began to barrel to the line. In the searing heat, a sweating Greaves responded but the Team Mengoni rider did not have enough left in the tank to catch the flying Coco’s product who pumped his fist in the air after crossing the line triumphantly.

Quick Results 

Open

Raynauth Jeffrey

Alanzo Greaves

Raul Leal

Andrew Hicks

Hamza Eastman

Michael Anthony

Jamal John Orville Hinds

 

Juniors

Andrew Hicks

Jamal John

Raphael Leung

Juveniles

Deeraj Garbarran

Briton John

Nigel Duguid

Under 45 Veterans

Horace Burrowes

Raymond Newton

Ralph Williams

Over 45 Veterans

Ian Jackson

Shameer Baksh

Kennard Lovell