Eighteen-year-old Raynauth Jeffrey yesterday sped off with the 16th annual Dr.Cheddi Jagan Memorial 55-mile cycle road race leaving a star-studded field that included national cyclists and seasoned veterans in his wake.
In hot, windy conditions Jeffrey won in two hours, 13 minutes and 26 seconds, shaving off an excess of 10 minutes off of his winning time last year which was two hours, 23 minutes and 29 seconds.
Jeffrey also won two of the eight prime point prizes.
Jeffrey, who was always in the lead pack of riders throughout the event, led national cyclists Enzo Matthews, Alonzo Greaves, Robin Persaud, Geron Williams and Paul DeNobrega into the top six.
DeNobrega, the Junior Sportsman of the Year, also copped two sprint prizes.
John Charles, Orville Hinds, junior star rider, Raul Leal and Matthews also pocketed a sprint prize each.
The event, which was sponsored by BK International, attracted a record 62 riders including females and started at New Amsterdam, proceeded to the Number 55 village and ended at Port Mourant, the birth village of the late former president.
The riders were sent on their way by Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee and Junior Niles, like he did last year, started out quickly but was pursued and soon caught by the bunch.
At the village of Palmyra, Charles, Matthews, Williams, Jeffrey and Wasim Gafoor pounced, taking control of the race by working in tandem to steadily increase their lead.
A furious chase spearheaded by Greaves, Leal, DeNobrega, Hinds, Persaud and Paul Choo-Wee-Nam enabled this group to connect with the lead pack at Auchlyne on the way up.
This bunch would journey together until they reached Eversham village on the way back to the finish. At this point, DeNobrega, Hinds and Jeffrey went on a break of their own. The pack would again work to catch the leaders and caught the trio at Whim. It was at this point that a seemingly tireless Jeffrey changed gears and pounced on the rest of the riders. He would then journey to the finish line unchallenged to win
Kennard Lovell repeated as the veteran winner ahead of Berbician,Wilbert Benjamin and Ralph Willliams. Hazina Barrett and Naomi Singh also received trophies after they finished in the top positions in the female category respectively.
Leal, Montell Anthony and Andre Abdool were the top three junior finishers.
At the prize giving ceremony which was held at the Jagan Memorial Memorial Monument at Babu John, Port Mourant, National cycling coach Hassan Mohamed thanked the sponsors, the cyclists and the media for covering the event. He also said that road races in the month of March will be dedicated to the former president and that meets in his memory will continue on the West Coast of Demerara and in Essequibo in the coming weeks.
