After the opening stages of the ‘Ride for Life’ five-stage road race yesterday, it is Team Coco’s Ruben Companioni who leads the way from his club mate and countryman, Carlos Ospina.
The Cuban who placed second in the first stage to Alanzo Greaves crossed the line for the second stage in pole position hand in hand with Ospina who rode in fifth in the first stage.
Companioni knows that there are three more stages to go including the hilly final stage in Linden on Sunday and will be keen on preserving his lead.
His other club mate and countryman Camillo Ulloa who biked in third and fifth in the respective stages, is lurking with intent in third place.
Yesterday’s racing covered 106 miles and featured two gruelling stages.
First stage Corriverton to New Amsterdam (46 miles).
The top eight riders broke away from the other 48 starters after about seven miles of racing.
This eight-strong unit then maintained their distance from the rest of the peloton after accelerating and riding as a team until the final 200m.
As expected a fierce sprint finish ensued which was won by the tireless Greaves a half wheel ahead of Companioni.
Results for Stage One
Alanzo Greaves 1hr: 37m: 39s (Roraima Bikers)
Ruben Companioni 1:37:42 (Team Coco)
Camillo Ulloa 1:37:44 (Team Coco)
Geron Williams 1:37:46 (Continental)
Carlos Ospino 1:37:47 (Team Coco)
Robin Persaud 1:37:48 (Carlton Wheelers)
Shaquel Agard 1:37:49 (Linden Bauxite Flyers)
Johan Robayo 1:37:49 (Team Coco)
The second bunch time was one hour, 41 minutes and seven seconds.
Second stage 60 miles -Rosignol to Carifesta Avenue
There were several mini breaks during the first miles of the stage but the peloton would wheel in the breakaway riders on each occasion.
At Woodley Park, Companioni, Ospina, Chris Holder, Team Alanis’ Paul DeNobrega and United Bike Shop’s Albert Philander changed gears and proceeded on a five-man break.
Two other Coco’s riders joined the five leaders at the Britannia Masjid and they began to work in tandem to stretch their lead on the huge chase pack.
At one point, the seven-man unit’s lead ballooned to more than two minutes then with the valiant effort of the chasers, it closed to one minute and 10 seconds. But it would get no closer.
At Mahaica, Companioni and Ospina attacked and were never caught, paving the way for a clean sweep of the top six for Team Coco’s.
Full results for the second stage.
1st) Ruben Companioni (2:19:12)
Carlos Ospina
Raynauth Jeffrey
Chris Holder (2:22:10)
Camillo Ulloa
Junior Niles
Today’s 35-mile third stage starts at Wales and ends at Parika. Race time is 08:00hrs.
