National cyclist, Alonzo Greaves yesterday blitzed a star studded field at the National Park to cart off top honours in the feature 35-lap event of the National Sports Commission (NSC) 11-race cycling meet.
The event, which was sponsored by the NSC as part of the Mashramani season, was the second ‘Teach Them Young’ 11-race programme for 2013, organized by national cycling coach Hassan Mohamed.
Greaves, who placed sixth in the same event last year, won the race in one hour, 38 minutes and 15 seconds.
He led last year’s gold medalist at Junior Caribbean Cycling Championships, Paul DeNobrega, 2012’s senior road race champion, Orville Hinds, Horace Burrowes, John Charles and Alex Mendes into the top six.
Greaves (four), DeNobrega (one) and Hinds (three) also shared the eight sprint prizes that were up for grabs.
The race, which attracted 42 starters, commenced at a blistering pace since extra incentives were up for grabs for the winners of the first six laps.
There were several lead changes throughout the event up until the top three separated from the rest of field in the 21st lap.
From there on Greaves, DeNobrega and Hinds worked in tandem to steadily increase the lead from the pack which included Marlon ‘Fishy’ Williams, Eric Sankar, Walter Grant-Stuart, Paul Choo-Wee-Nam, Enzo Matthews, Raymond Newton, Burrowes, Charles and Mendes.
The lead pack would journey together until a fierce sprint ensued with 200 metres to go. Greaves, however, seemed to find another gear and powered to victory, easily beating DeNobrega and Hinds.
Before the feature event, Niles rode off with the veterans’ under-50, five-lap first place trophy and the prime prize beating US-based Berbician, Wilbert Benjamin and Kennard Lovell who placed second and third respectively. Makel Diaz took top honours in the three-lap BMX boys’ Open race ahead of Jamel John and Khemraj Sanichar.
In the 12-to-14-years, boys and girls, three-lap race, Romelo Crawford, Alfie Sonaram and Tyrique Hall were the top three finishers in that order. The prime prize also went to Crawford.
In the five-lap veterans’ over-50 race, Kenneth Marjie followed by Virgil Jones and Lancelot Rose respectively.
Maurice Fagundes once again won the veterans’ over-60 years’ race ahead of Joseph Faria and Harry Lall. Raul Leal won the juniors and juveniles 10-lap race in a time of 23 minutes and seven seconds ahead of Alonzo Ambrose and Akeem Arthur.
The race for upright cyclists was won by Stephano Husbands with Ozia McAully and Julio Melville placing second and crossing the finish line third.
The two-lap BMX boys’ six-to-nine years’ race was won by Jeremiah Harrison with cousins Isaiah and Christopher Sahadeo pedaling second and third respectively.
At the prize giving ceremony, Mohammed thanked the NSC for their sponsorship and the cyclists for participating in the meet and making the programme a successful one.
Today at 09:00hrs, the cyclists will take their talents to the open road to compete in the second NSC sponsored Mashramani event, a 40-mile road race from the Demerara Harbour Bridge to Bushy Park and back.
