Another exciting weekend for cycling

Feb 14, 2009 Sports

Mash 11-race @ NP & R&R 40- miler takes center stage

Christopher Holder

Alonzo Greaves

By Franklin Wilson
Cycling, already the most active sport locally since the 2009 sports season got going, will continue that high level of activity this weekend with the staging of the annual National Sports Commission (NSC) sponsored 11-race programme at the National Park today.

Tomorrow the attention will switch back the to road ways when the 18th annual R&R International 40-mile Road Race comes off.

With all the big names back in the mix, a high level of rivalry is expected as was seen in the previous races so far this year. Alonzo Greaves, who won the first feature race of the season at the same venue, is the defending champion at this meet but will have to ride hard if he is to retain the honours.
He missed last Sunday’s race reportedly due to the flu.

Fully perched in his saddle and a major threat is 16 year-old sensation Christopher who won last years juvenile 10-lap clash and who was last weekends star at the Park and on the road, winning the George Cumberbatch Memorial feature 30 lap and the NSC’s Mashramani 40-miler.

It was Holder’s first back to back triumph and he said he is hoping to repeat those performances again this weekend.

But one cannot count out the other senior riders who will also be in contention, Warren ‘Fort’ Mc Kay, Darren Allen, Robin Persaud, Albert ‘Bertie’ Philander, Junior Niles, Kester Croal along with juniors Geron Williams and Enzo Matthews.

Today, the usual BMX brigade will be out once again to compete against each other. There seems to be no match for Raymond Perez Jr. who has been whipping the opposition in the 6-9 BMX category for the more than a year. Dineshwar Ragubeer will have to train much harder to turn the tables and improve on his 2nd place finishes.

Crystal Blackman, who has been ruling the roost among the BMX girls, is also crying out for tougher competition.

Naomi Singh and Abigail Humphrey should be back to engage each other in the bigger girls division. The veterans and upright riders are also catered for today.

John Charles, who won the R&R 40-miler last year, has not faced the starters’ orders so far this year and even if he shows up tomorrow, it does seem possible that he can repeat as the champ again this year.
Holder who won the junior category will start as favorite based on his achievements to date but is expected to receive stiff competition from the field.

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