5th Annual Baker’s Memorial Cycling Classic...

5th Annual Baker’s Memorial Cycling Classic…

Jul 05, 2016 Sports

Geron Williams scripts another characteristic win; Hicks is junior winner

By Franklin Wilson

Reigning National Senior Road Race champion Geron Williams recorded another quality win when he went one step better than last year to ink his name as the champion of the 5th annual Baker’s Memorial Cycling Classic which was contested in the Bauxite Mining Town of Linden and the Linden Soesdyke Highway, yesterday.
Organised by the Linden Bauxite Flyers Cycle Club (LBFCC) and sponsored exclusively by the Baker’s Family, yesterday’s race attracted a top class field of the best riders in Guyana who all wanted to cash in on the top prize of $50,000 plus.
Williams, who one week ago had to ride a strategic race as the lone Continental Cycle Club rider, again had to be tactical in his maneuvers in order to outsprint 2015 National Road Race Champion, Hamza Eastman (Team Coco’s); he completed the 60-mile race which took in some hills along with flat terrain in 2 Hours 25 Minutes 07 Seconds.
Paul De Nobrega, Shaquelle Agard, Orville Hinds and Jamal John completed the top six who were all rewarded with cash prizes. The top six rode a commanding race having separated themselves from the pack on the second of three laps at Bamia Hill on the Linden Soesdyke Highway, each constituting 20 miles.
The race pedaled off in front the Baker’s residence before proceeding into the Bauxite Mining Town and then out to the highway, turning back at the Moblissa Hill.
Andrew Hicks ruled the roost in the junior category winning in 2 Hours 30 Minutes 37 Seconds. 2016 Road Race champ Andrew Cornelius had to settle for the runner-up spot with Jornel Yearwood, third.
Ronaldo Narine was the lone juvenile competitor to finish the race while top female cyclist was Byonka Barker who won from Olesh McPherson.
Warren ‘Forty’ Mc Kay was the leading veteran as he stopped the clock in their one lap contest at 49 Minutes 05 Seconds. Ian ‘Deaf Boy’ Jackson was 2nd with Jaikarran Sukhai 3rd.
The top three LBFCC cyclists in the race were also rewarded for their efforts, Shaquille Agard, Jornel Yearwood and Sylvio Inniss.
The Baker’s family expressed thanks to the principals involved in making the event a success whilst informing that the event would be held every year in memory of the late Baker parents, Joseph and Adelaide of Linden.
Three of the Baker’s siblings were former cyclists; Brentnol, Lindon and Colin who would have won various national titles during the 1970s and 80s.
Lindon and Brentnol went on to represent Guyana.
The family informed that their dad would have been 100 years-old in 2017 were he still alive and they are planning to have a huge event next year but it would be held on the first weekend of April.
Commenting on the race, Williams said that he was more familiar with the terrain this year as opposed to last year when Michael Anthony prevailed having also won in a sprint home.
”This year I came out and I knew where I was going to sprint from, I did so and executed perfectly to take the win. The race was pretty good; it wasn’t overly difficult today because an early break went and the race was pretty controlled for a while so I was able to start the race and be able to find a good rhythm before it got pretty hard.
By the time the race first break came back and the moves went, we were able to go after them and shut it down and establish the winning break and that was good.”