National cyclist, Orville Hinds capped a dominant year on the saddle by winning the 16th Diamond Mineral Water 50-mile road race yesterday at West Demerara.
Hinds, who had eight wins and graced the podium multiple times during the season, punctuated a stellar 2015 emphatically.
The Team Gillette Evolution (TGE) standout displayed his stamina and grit during the sun baked event, pocketing seven of the eight sprint prizes before stopping the clock in a brisk one hour, 59 minutes and 24 seconds.
Yesterday’s event started at Wales, proceeded to Bushy Park Parika and returned to Schoonord for the finish.
Hinds, 25, led Marlon ‘Fishy’ Williams also of TGE and Chris Griffith (Team Alanis) unto the podium while his other club mate, Akeem Wilkinson and Team Alanis’ Paul Choo-Wee-Nam and Paul DeNobrega filled out the top six paid positions among the 20 starters.
Hinds who accumulated 194 points during the season (most for any rider) broke away from the peloton at Vreed-en-Hoop on the upward journey and never relinquished the lead despite the efforts of some other wheelsman.
He then went on to snap up sprint prize after sprint prize, eventually winning by more than two minutes easy as a Sunday morning.
“It was a great year for me” Hinds told Stabroek Sport yesterday. “I look forward to better things next year like more overseas races but I would like to thank our sponsors, Ansa McAL, Cosab Auto Sales, my teammates and all other individuals for their support.”
Hind’s year was highlighted by winning the Independence Three-Stage race and representing Guyana at the Caribbean Cycling Championships last month.
Yesterday’s race was the final fixture on organizer, Hassan Mohamed’s 2015 calendar. (Emmerson Campbell)
Quick Results
Top Six Overall
Orville Hinds
Marlon Williams
Chris Griffith
Akeem Wilkinson
Paul Choo-Wee-Nam
Paul DeNobrega
Juniors
Chris Griffith
Andrew Hicks
Nigel Duguid Jr.
Veterans
Talim Shaw
Jaikarran Sukhai
Shameer Baksh
Mountain Bike
Sherwin Forde
Wayne Nurse
Michael Holder
