Stage records smashed as 29th Independence 3-stage cycle race sizzle

May 15, 2011 Sports

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Team Coco’s Yosimi Pol raises his hands in triumph as he powers to the finish line ahead of defending champion Warren Mc Kay, Robin Persaud and Frank Taravieso (partly hidden) in that order. (Franklin Wilson photo)

Pol muscles past McKay in 1 & 2; breathtaking final stage set for today

By Franklin Wilson

The inclusion of overseas teams for the 29th Annual Three-Stage cycle road race has taken the sport to another level. It has seen the largest field of riders to ever face the starting line for a local race and with it, resulting in both stage records being smashed so far.
Team Coco’s Yosimi Pol has won both stages to date in record times, relegating defending champion, Guyanese Warren ‘Forty’ McKay to second place in both instances so far. An enthralling final stage is set for today from the Bauxite Mining Town of Linden to the Capital City of Georgetown.
The race got off to a perfect start outside the Corriverton Police Station with Director of Sport Neil Kumar sending the field of 80-starters on their way.
From the start of the race it was clear that this was going to be an event as never seen before in Guyana. The respective teams smartly outfitted in their uniforms; the performance on the road was also going to be grand.
Team Guyana, comprising Mc Kay, Godfrey Pollydore, Enzo Matthews, Alonzo Greaves, Ian ‘Deaf Boy’ Jackson, Raymond ‘Steely’ Newton and Robin Persaud started in pole position and looked confident of giving a good account of themselves.
From the outset through, it was never going to be an easy task for the locals coming up against the experienced Team Coco’s, Heat Wave of Trinidad and Tobago as well as the Surinamese; but the battle had begun.
It was a tactical duel with the various teams trying to outwit each other. The pace was unbelievable and it was clear that only the fittest was destined to survive as the visiting riders sunk their feet into the gas tank resulting in a constant and consistent pace.
The breakaways were few and the pace set was new to the extent that by the end of the first stage, Pol’s winning time of One Hour 38 minutes 31 seconds not only topped last year time of One Hour 49 minutes 40 seconds but smashed the stage record which stood at One Hour 42 minutes in a four way sprint to the Line at Alexander Street, New Amsterdam.
McKay, teammate Robin Persaud, Frank Taravieso (Team Coco’s), Phillip Clarke (Heat Wave), Raymond Newton (Guyana) and Christopher Gill (Heat Wave) finishing the stage in that order.
Team Guyana members Godfrey Pollydore and Alonzo Greaves finished in the second bunch of 12 riders more than 2 minutes behind the first bunch, 1 hour 40 Minutes 33 Seconds.

The top seven riders broke away from the main pack at No. 50 Village (Leeds) and never looked back. Albert Philander and Matthews enjoyed the lead briefly before being sucked in and dropped by the main pack.
Conditions were cool for the most part with the race pedaling off at 07:30hrs. Early morning showers along parts of the route made the roadway slippery as a result of the mud left on the roads by the tractors working in the rice fields.
Members of the Guyana Police Force did an excellent job in not only controlling vehicular traffic but also the many stray animals (cows, donkeys, goats, and sheep) along the roadways during both stages of the race so far.
The pace was set and stage-two was not going to be an easy duel; and so it turned out. Team Coco’s started in pole ahead of Team Guyana, Heat Wave, Team Suriname and the other local riders.
Seventy-five riders commenced this stage at 14:25hrs after all were fed and were well rested ahead of another mouth watering stage.
Albert Philander of Roraima Bikers Club decided to go on the early break as the race got underway and was later joined by Junior Niles. But they were closely monitored by Coco’s and the other teams and were never allowed to create any distance of significance.
Pollydore too decided to carry the pace and was leading the pack for sometime also. During this stage however, the pace continued to be constant despite animals having to be chased off the course on quite a few occasions, Members of the GPF having to assist also.
Like he did in stage one, Matthews decided to take matters into his own hands and along with a member of Heat Wave opened up a 45 second lead on the main pack but that did not last too long, they were eventually sucked in at Golden Fleece.
Pollydore, who rode against many of the Team Coco’s riders and successfully so, started to look very threatening on stage two but unfortunately suffered a puncture at Ann’s Grove with the race excitingly poised.
Thereafter, the pace increased further and the stage record was constantly falling away and it surely did.
Another sprint home to the finish line on Carifesta Avenue saw Yosimi Pol again outmuscling Warren McKay, Frank Taravieso and Phillip Clarke in record time; setting a new mark of 2 hours 15 minutes 31 seconds.
Last year’s time of 2 hours 23 minutes went through the window.
Tying for joint 5th were Joshua Alexander (Heat Wave), Jose Navaro, Jose Frank Rodriguez, Gervardo Rodriguez and Antonio Quintero all of Team Coco’s; underlining their experience and dominance.
Going into today’s final stage which is 64.5 miles (103.3km) the stage record is surely under threat given what has transpired so far, fans are sure to come out in their numbers like they have done at the end of both stages so far, to take in the action and be on hand to experience some breathtaking action.
Overall leader Yosimi Pol (3 hours 53 minutes 42 seconds) has a six second lead over Warren McKay (3 hours 53 minutes 48 seconds) with Frank Taravieso 12 seconds off the grid (3 hours 53 minutes 54 seconds).

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