Gill whips field in Newsday Republic Day Cycling Classic

Fresh from being crowned Trinidad and Tobago Road Race champion and first ever National Criterium title-holder, Christopher Gill yesterday added Newsday Republic Day Cycling Classic to his already impressive resume. Midway into the 35-lap race which featured a host of local and international standouts, it was evident that the title would change hands as defending champ Emile Abraham was clipped by a slower cyclist and crashed out of the race.

Tim Larkin of the US held the race ransom in the early stages and struck out on his own with Joshua Alexander and Leon Brauer of the Netherlands in tow. But the crash changed the face of the race and Gill and company brought the chasing pack up to the leaders and swallowed them with five laps to go. The race was peppered with short sprints as riders competed for $100, $200 and $500 primes but the real prize, the title and $1,500, was up for grabs up to the last lap which came down to a bunch sprint. Gill crossed the line, arms raised triumphantly, in a time of 58.55 seconds. He was trailed by Roger Smart in second while Brauer was third, Larkin placed fourth, Stephen Mungroo came fifth and Orlando Greaves finished sixth.

Abraham was taken to the nearby St Clair Medical Centre and was told that his injuries were not serious. He should be back on the road in a week. Earlier in the day he raced to victory in the curtain raiser Lap Sprint with Mangroo second and sprinter Ako Kellar third. Promising youngster Haseem Mc Lean finished fourth.

Newsday Republic Day Cycling Classic Results
Cycling:
Category 3 & 4: 1. Barry Luces 2.Colin Wilson 3.Roger Simon 4. Gregory D’Andrade.
Category 5: 1.Raphael Figueira 2.Deon David 3.Anton Carrington 4.Christian Garnes.
Juniors: 1. Marlon Williams 2.Christopher Sellier 3.Alonzo Greaves 4.Johnathan Rawlins.
Veterans:
40 and Over: 1.Kelvin Lee Young 2.Gregory D’Andrade 3.Pedro Castellano 4.Richard Ramchand.
50 and Over: 1.Ronald Peters 2.Ed Watson 3.Kent Luces 4. Mark Messiah.
60 and Over: 1.Lloyd Joseph 2.Barry Edhill 3.Joey Nunes.
Mountain Bike: 1.Justin Russeau 2.Anton Carrington 3.Gerrard Phillips 4.Richard Chase.