ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA CYCLING FEDERATION

 

The ABACA 35 Mile Road Race held Sunday was a success and exciting event as the cycling season looking to wine down.

 

37 riders took the start line on Sunday’s race for the Association 13 race for the season. The race was controlled start through the busy parts of the city then the cyclists got the start flag from Friars hill road, the race got off to a fast start creating a split on the group as early as in the Marble Hill area. Several attempts to break free made by several riders but not until halfway through the course 4 riders established a breakaway ahead of the main group.

 

Team Terminix, Andre Simon, Vincente and Junior rider, Joel Phillip was the 3 teammate in the break away with the lone ESR rider, Robert Marsh. The Team Terminix began some tactical riding to separate a rider from the Robert Marsh group. Vincente made the best move to break free to lead the race and rode home by himself, leaving Marsh, Simon and Phillip to battle for the lower spots. Cuban, Vincente Sanabria easily won the 35 mile race, clocking a time of 1:48.41 to add to his victories since he came to Antigua.

 

Robert Marsh and Andre Simon stayed together to the finish line bringing it down to a sprint with Simon powering himself away to leave Marsh in his dust. Andre Simon completed the course in a time of 1:50.40.595 to place 2^nd ahead of Robert Marsh who placed 3^rd in a time of 1:50.40.985. Marvin Spencer had to settle for 4^th after he experienced mechanical problem in the early part of the race, Spencer completed the 35 mile route in a time of 1:54.36 ahead of Omari King who was 5^th in a time of 1:54.52. Ken Jackson and Neil Lloyd were 5^th and 6^th respectively.

 

Young Joel Phillip continues to show a promising future in the sport as he performed a commendable rider in Sunday’s race. The Team Terminix junior rider lead the race with the island’s best for more than half the race route before coming to the finish line to win the Junior-Class. Phillip completed the 35-mile route in a time of 1:54.52 to win his class ahead of Collin James who was 2^nd in time of 2:05.08. Cadet registered rider, Nigel Fabian contested the Junior-Class and placed 3^rd in a time of 2:05.10.

 

Tesheed Gordon of ESR Club won the B-Class. Gordon had a commendable performance to complete the course in a time of 1:54.51 ahead of Rory Butler of Rattlers Club, the triathlete complete the course in a time of 1:54.53. Conroy Thomas who is unable to continue to show the great performance that he portrait at started the season had to settle for 3^rd in with a time of 1:59.38.

 

Alisha David of Road Runner Club won the Female Class completed the reduced course in a time of 1:27.13. Lindsay Duffy started the race but was unable to finish.

 

A group of Beginners despite riding for a while with the Road Runners Club tried a race for the first time. 6 new riders took it to the start line to race over an approximate distance of 18 mile, resulting with Jackie Ashford (female) winning. Jackie completes the course in a time of 1:22.05 ahead of her husband, Al Ashford who placed 2^nd in a time of 1:22.05.981. Alistair Savoury was 3^rd in a time of 1:22.06 ahead of Derrick Sutherland, Janice Sutherland and Wendell Anthony who was 4^th, 5^th and 6^th respectively.

 

The Cycling Association’s next race scheduled for Sunday 27^th October, the Pares Circuit Race. The race will start at 2pm on the main road in Pares Village and follow the route unto Pot Works Dam Road, unto Collins Road, back unto Pares road for 7 laps.