CARLTON Wheelers cyclist Alonzo Greaves returned an overall time of six hours 59 minutes 48 seconds (6:59.48) in winning the 27th Annual National Sports Commission Independence Three-Stage Cycle Road Race which concluded yesterday.
Going into the third and final stage yesterday with a time of 4:05.25, Greaves returned 2:54.23 making his overall time 6:59.48 of which 10 seconds was deducted for winning stage two (2:25.17), making his official recorded time for the 169-mile course 6:59.38.
 Minister of Sport Dr Frank Anthony (sixth right) strike a pose for photographer Sonell Nelson along with other prize winners and race officials. Second right is race organiser Hassan Mohamed. | |
Holder finished second overall with a time of 6:59.42 and, in the process, won the junior category ahead of Geron Williams who failed to complete the course.
Simone was third overall with a time of 6:59.48 while Pollydore ended fourth (7:00.24), Gordon Kennedy fifth (7:00.33) and Andrew Reece sixth (7:01.14)
Minister of Sport Dr Frank Anthony, in delivering the feature address at the presentation ceremony yesterday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, congratulated Greaves for winning the event and thanked the race officials for staging a successful event.
 Race winner Alonzo Greaves (left), accepts the first prize trophy and cash from Minister of Sport Dr Frank Anthony at yesterday’s presentation ceremony at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall. (Sonell Nelson photos | |
Dr Anthony said he was very pleased to be a part of this year’s activity and expressed his delight that the challenge he had thrown out to the participants prior to their departure for Berbice, on Friday, was met “but it is unfortunate that the race record was not broken.”
The record of 6:23.26 which was established by Pollydore in 1998 still holds, despite a shortening of the distance, with the construction on the Mahaica and Mahaicony bridges.
Minister Anthony said this year’s event brought out the quality in local cycling as other persons (cyclists) joined Pollydore in returning under seven hours for the 169-mile race.
“What I want, however, is to see this as the continuance of a training programme that will make it a strong one and I would like to thank Hassan (Mohamed) and the cyclists for providing that type of competition.”
He said he would like to see changes in the five-stage event fixed for November and informed that he has already spoken to the Guyana Cycling Federation about another cycling event which he hopes will be inaugurated next year.
Minister Anthony said he is working on a project that will see over 1 000 persons involved in a single cycling event and stated that once this is accomplished it would lift the standard of the sport on the local scene.
He said he plans to invite clubs, villages and schoolchildren to participate in this event and still hopes that the long-awaited Georgetown to Lethem trail race will become a reality.
GCF president Hector Edwards in brief remarks noted that when the activity was staged last year, the top three places were occupied by overseas-based riders, but this year that has been reversed.
He said the sport has had pitfalls over the years, but noted that Mohamed has been doing a lot for the sport.