Emile stays road cycling king

EMILE ABRAHAM yesterday gave a strong signal that he will be the man to beat in the upcoming Tobago International Cycling Classic when he sprinted away with the National Championship Road Race in San Fernando.

Riding for Trinbago Wheelers, Abraham completed the course in La Romain in four hours, 30 minutes 21 seconds to retain the title he won last year. Fresh from winning a three-stage event in the United States where he campaigns, Abraham beat former champion and Caribbean Road race title-holder Stephen Mangroo and Guy Costa of Heatwave in a blinding sprint to the finish. All three pedal pushers were credited with the same time. In fourth place was Christopher Gill, riding for Heatwave followed in fifth by David Als of Warriors. Yesterday, Ed Watson, Public Relations Officer of the Cycling Federation (TTCF) said Abraham’s victory was an ominous sign for the foreign invaders coming for the Tobago race from September 18 to 21. “Emile’s performance is all the more noteworthy because he was racing against a stronger field evidenced by the close finish,” said Watson. He revealed that Mangroo may have been hampered yesterday by the loss and subsequent retrieval of his new Belgian custom-made bike.

Returning to Trinidad from a tough nine-stage Tour of French Guiana where he placed a creditable 11th, Mangroo’s cycle ended up in Martinique. “He had a stressful week and may have been set back by the uncertainty and anxiety in getting his bike back,” said Watson yesterday. In the Junior Category yesterday, Adam Alexander of Warriors once more underlined his great potential with a close victory in 2.45:53. In second place, with the same time was Dariel Perreira of Mercury Rising. Gustavo Jacobs (Southclaine) was fourth followed by teammate Brandon Phillips in fifth. And in an unusual occurrence, female guest rider Ruth Hessells, a Dutch national living in Trinidad and Tobago put the Veterans 40 and Over bunch to shame winning their five-lap grind comfortably. However the gold medal went to Dick Ramchand who was the first TT rider to finish in 2.46:22, riding for Warriors.

In second was Gregory Dandrade (Toyota Madonna), credited with the same time; followed by Kevin Lee Young, an unattached cyclist. Robert Sharpe of Heatwave was next. In the Veterans 50 and Over, doing two laps, Ronald Peters of Toyota Madonna got sweet revenge over his archrival Ed Watson (unattached) in a sprint to the line. Both were given the same time of 1.15.25. Last Monday (Independence holiday) Watson had beaten Peters into second in the National Championship Criterium at Wallerfield. In third place yesterday was Heatwave’s Peter Hernandez with Godfrey Kline of TL Singh Sonics fourth. Yesterday Watson said Abraham will be supported in his bid to retain the Tobago International Classic crown by a strong team from the US sponsored by Aerospace Engineering and Toyota. Not to be outdone Mangroo, a Guyana-born naturalised TT citizen will be riding with his Belgian connections, Bowal, where he spent several months recently competing in a semi-professional capacity.

RESULTS
National Road Race Championship
SENIORS
1. Emile Abraham (Trinbago Wheelers) 4.30:21; 2 Stephen Mangroo (Unattached) 4.30:21; 3 Guy Costa (Heatwave) 4.30:21; 4 Christopher Gill (Heatwave); 5 David Als (Warriors).
JUNIORS
1 Adam Alexander (Warriors) 2.45:53; 2 Dariel Perreira (Mercury Rising) 2.45:53; 3 Gustavo Jacobs (Southclaine); 4 Brandon Phillips (Southclaine).
VETERANS 40 AND OVER
1 Dick Ramchand (Warriors) 2.46.22; 2 Gregory Dandrade (Toyta Madonna) 2.46:22; 3 Kevin Lee Young (Unattached); 4 Robert Sharpe (Heatwave).
VETERANS 50 AND OVER
1 Ronald Peters (Toyota Madonna) 1.15:24; 2 Edward Watson (Unattached) 1.15:24; 3 Peter Hernandez (Heatwave); 4 Godfrey Kline (TL Singh Sonics)

LAST MONDAY’S RESULTS
SENIORS
1 Guy Costa (Heatwave) 58.17:19; 2 David Als (Warriors) 56.52:59; 3 Colin Wilson (Warriors) 58.47:45.
JUNIORS
1 Adam Alexander (Warriors) 36.50.35; 2 Stephen Rambaran (Southhampton) 38.00:30; 3 Christopher Sellier (Warriors) 39.02.96; 4 Dariel Perreira (Mercury Rising) 39.13:99.
VETERANS 40 AND OVER
1 Courtnay Mark (Unattached) 37.21:15; 2 Gregory Dandrade (Toyota Madonna) 37.45:60; 3 Dick Ramcharan (Warriors) 37.49:09; 4 Imtiaz Ali (Nepuyo Wheelers) 38.38:45.
VETERANS 50 AND OVER
1 Ed Watson (Unattached) 19.49.22; 2 Ronald Peters (Toyota Madonna) 19.50.51; 3 Peter Hernandez (Heatwave) 19.53.73; 4 Stephen Joseph (TL Singh Sonics) 20.27:88.
VETERANS 60 AND OVER
1 Joey Nunez (Southampton) 21.49.82; 2 Peter De Silva (Unattached) 23.22:41.