Latest update March 19th, 2024 12:59 AM
Jun 27, 2016 Sports
Beats Raynauth Jeffrey in sprint home
By Franklin Wilson
Professional cyclist, Foundation and Continental Cycle Club’s Geron Williams defied the odds and his rivals from Team Coco’s and Team Evolution to turn in what he describes as the best performance of his career in winning the 2016 Guyana Cycling Federation Senior Men’s Road Race Championship yesterday in the city.
In consistent drizzle early on and hazy sunshine later on, the biggest crowd at a cycling event in a few years were treated to a classic finish between two of the best modern day riders in Guyana.
The two riders separated themselves from the main peloton on lap 20 and never looked back, Williams prevailing in the sprint home even as the fans heatedly debated who would be the winner even encroaching on the finish line as they wanted to absorb every second of the sprint.
Jeffrey it was who took first jump after the two gladiators on cycles turned on to JB Singh Highway heading into the final straight. Williams kept his man in sight and jumped Jeffrey just around Barr Street to win in the final 150m to the applause of the dozens of fans on hand.
Attracting the best Guyana has to offer, 32 cyclists faced starters orders and after one neutral lap, were sent on their way by Director of Sport Chris Jones. It was a strategic race early on with a blistering pace being set as the rain poured down.
Unfortunately, USA based Scott Savory who is in fine form, too suffered a blow out on lap one and this put paid to his chances of being a real contender for the championship. From Lap 3, Jamal John, Geron Williams and Stephano Husbands were the leaders and had established a 45 second lead on the pack.
The lead increased by the next lap with the same trio holding the sway on lap 9 but by then the lead was well over one minute. Husbands, another of the Team Coco’s riders who have been training on the USA and Columbian circuits this year, unfortunately suffered a blow out which saw him being relegated to the second pack and eventually alone as the leading two riders kept their advantage intact.
The peloton eventually connected with the leaders on lap 17 as the intensity of the race took its toll on the athletes who sought to ease the pace to regroup for the later laps.
Eight riders, four from Team Coco’s (Eastman, Jeffrey, Husbands, Jamal John) and three Team Evolution (Marlon Williams, Raul Leal, Orville Hinds) along with Geron Williams took over the lead on lap 18 but as the intensity increased again, lap 19 saw Alanzo Ambrose, Geron Williams and 2015 champion Hamza Eastman taking over with the others within striking distance.
But the next lap saw Jeffrey jumping ahead and was immediately pursued by Geron Williams to seal off the race and provide a memorable finish for the patient spectators on hand.
Geron Williams’ winning time was Two Hours 42 Minutes 44.64 Seconds followed by Jeffrey, Stephan Husbands and Jamal John.
The new champion, who has won two championships in the past three years, commented: “The win today for me is more emotional than anything else because I’ve been preparing for the race for so long; to come in with the odds against me and against two very strong teams in Coco’s and Evolution is unbelievable.”
Williams informed this newspaper that for the past few months his USA Coach and himself were focusing specifically on the GCF 2016 championships.
“Even though I was racing Summerville and the other races, I wasn’t taking breaks preparing for those races, I was training and focusing all my energies for today (Sunday) even yesterday’s (Saturday) time trails was in preparation for today (Sunday) so I had no expectations. I was happy that I came out today and I was able to produce a winning ride.
It wasn’t easy today, I mean I’m in great shape but fitness alone does not win a race, it takes a lot of concentration and a lot of calculating. Today will definitely go down as one of my best wins in my career regardless of where I race. I’ve raced in a lot of places but winning home is always great and to win this particular race; this is the biggest win of the year for me.”
Jones was on hand to perform duties of waving the chequered flag to signal the end of what was a successful race. The Director of Sport also distributed medals and championship jerseys to the respective gold, silver and bronze medal performers of the male Time Trials and Road Races.
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