Team Cocos’ Jamaul John outsprinted a four-man pack to take the third annual Urban Benjamin Memorial Road Race yesterday in Essequibo.
Battling the vision impairing rain and 36 riders across the Essequibo coast, the 22-year-old completed the Gomes Mining Company-sponsored and Evolution Cycling Club-organised 74-mile race from Charity to Supenaam and back in three hours, three minutes and 15 seconds (03:03:15) with the fans gyrating to chants of “John! John!.”
The grueling conditions, which included cattle and mud coupled with potholes littered across the roads, did not halt the riders march as they quickly divided into a six-man lead pack that was whittled to four coming up to the 500-metre dash to the checkered flag.
