Just as he did in last year’s inaugural event where he lost the first stage but stormed back to take the second, defending champion Alonso Greaves repeated the performance yesterday to take the overall lead in the Ministry of Health (MOH)/Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS) organized and sponsored Riding for Life 2’ five stage cycle road race.
Having conceded a lead of 1:06s to the winner of this year’s first stage Robin Persaud, Greaves, in collaboration with Junior Niles, Raymond Newton and Tony Simon, broke away from the peloton a mere three minutes into the race to complete an unchallenged victory from Rosignol to Carifesta Avenue, covering a distance of 63 miles, in a time of 2:32:05.
More importantly to the defending champion was his erasing the time deficit Persaud held over him at the completion of the first stage.
He now has a lead of 11:04s over Persaud which cycling enthusiasts claim is too high a hurdle for Persaud to overcome. From the time the cyclists witnessed the presentation of the stage jersey to Persaud and were sent on their way 150 metres from the Rosignol Stelling, Niles made a surge to the front but was caught by Warren Mc Kay and Geron Williams at the start of D’ Edward Village. But the hard-working Marlon ‘Fishy’ Williams displayed stamina and determination in leading the peloton which included Greaves, Darren Allen, Simon, Trinidadian Kris Padel and Gordon Kennedy among others, to the front pack.
But just as the peloton reached the entrance to the Number Six race course, Greaves, Niles, Newton and Simon made a move to front where they stayed for the duration of the race, holding a lead of five minutes as they went through the villages on the West Bank of Berbice.
Just as they approached Belfield, Greaves made a surge to front but was wheeled in by Newton and company and they stayed together right up to the finish line, where those gathered were expecting a lively finish which never materialised.
Junior cyclist Geron Williams took the fifth position and with it, the lead in the Junior category of the race, which is being organized to sensitize the nation on the deadly disease HIV/AIDS and its Awareness, from Ian ‘Dumb Boy’ Jackson in a time of 2:38:39, or 6:34 after Greaves and company. Persaud takes first stage from Allen
Earlier in the day, Persaud won the first stage from Springlands Police Station to New Amsterdam in a time of 1:49:00s but had to outsprint the hard-working Allen who finished three seconds behind him in the 43-mile event.
When the 52 cyclists which included six foreign competitors were sent on their way by Mayor of Corriverton Roy Baijnauth at 0735hrs, junior cyclist Enzo Matthews made a move to front, but Persaud, Newton and the veteran Kennard Lovell caught him at the Scottsburg United Cricket Ground. The peloton reconnected with the front runners shortly after at the Number 70 Village Corentyne where Lovell suffered a puncture to his front wheel, before Simon made his move at the Tagore Memorial Secondary School and held a lead of 1500 meters all the way to the Number 51 Police Station where he was caught by Newton and Persaud.
The three worked in tandem at the front with Simon taking the first prime at whilst the peloton led by Marlon Williams and included Leer Nunes, John Charles, Warren Mc Kay and defending champion Alonzo Greaves amongst others, were working hard to reconnect with the front runners.
They were not able to do so until they reached the 19 Road, before Persaud, Allen and young Christopher Persaud made a move to front midway on the 19 Road.
But a determined looking Kris Padel from one of two riders from Anguilla competing in this year’s event, led a small peloton that included Ian ‘Dumb Boy’ Jackson, Leer Nunes and Warren ‘Forty’ Mc Kay, reconnected with the front runners just before they crossed the Canje Bridge.
But in the sprint for home, Persaud surprised all and sundry to claim the first place and the stage from Allen, Padel and Jackson in that order, whilst Nunes, Christopher Persaud and Mc Kay rounded off the top seven.
Greaves found himself locked in the second peloton which finished 1:06s behind Persaud, but at the end of the second stage, he now has a comfortable lead which can ensure him of retaining the title, unless Newton, Niles and Simon has other ideas.
Prior to the start of the first stage, Walter Grant Stuart who competes with one hand was presented with a camel back by president of the Kaieteur Cycle Club and assistant racing secretary of the GCF Malcolm Sonaram, on behalf of vice president of KCC, USA based Liam Richmond.
Sonaram told Stabroek Sports, that Stuart will find it much easier using the camel back when he needs water whilst competing, compared to recent times when he would have to unbalance himself by reaching for his water bottle with his lone hand (right).
Stuart was appreciative of the gift and thanked both Richmond and Sonaram.
Both spectators and the cyclists were also presented with condoms as part of the HIV/AIDS Awareness ‘Riding for Life 2’ campaign, before the start of the race.
The top four placing in the race which will see the third stage being contested from Wales Police Station to Parika this morning from 0900hrs are; Greaves, Niles, Newton and Simon with a time of 4:22:16.
First stage winner: Robin Persaud raises his hand in triumph after outsprinting Darren Allen (second right) and Kris Padel (right) respectively to take the first stage from Springlands to New Amsterdam in the second annual Ministry of Health/ Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports five stage ‘Ride for Life 2’ yesterday. While at right Alonzo Greves cruises to victory. (Lawrance Fanfair photos)
