US cyclist wins Newsday Classic

The result means that local road race king Emile Abraham and defending champion Stefan Steinweg of Germany will be hoping to exact revenge at the gruelling four-day event.

Blackgrove who also rides on Abraham’s “Team Type 1” and US club Toyota United, was a runaway winner, opening up a near 300-metre lead on the main pack to cruise home comfortably.

Officials later praised Newsday, whose idea it was to fund the event, to assist the nation’s street children.

Marketing Officer Diana Gopaulsingh got the feature event underway and it highlighted a day of activities put on by Newsday to provide education and other necessities to the nation’s underprivileged children.

Gopaulsingh described the event as the biggest event to have been staged and hinted that it is an indication of more funds for the account – which will soon be given to seven homes that house the children.

Veteran cyclist Gene Samuel secured the runner-up position in a photo finish while Adam Alexander closed for third. Guyana’s Warren Mc Kay secured fourth position while Abraham raced home in for a disappointing fifth position. Alexander’s brother Joshua Alexander was sixth.

The expected duel between Steinweg and Abraham never materialised as both looked on as Blackgrove put gas to the pedal and raced clear of the main bunch.

The German was hoping to make his mark on his second-to-last ride of his career and at age 39 will go for a flourish in the Tobago Cycle Classic which will take place from today through to Sunday.

Meanwhile Lionel Dandrade claimed the top spot in the 5K road race that preceded the feature event.

He defeated a large field to complete the run from King George V Park, around the Queen’s Park Savannah and back to the park in a time of 15 minutes and 08 seconds.

Trinidad and Tobago’s Curtis Cox claimed the second position in 15 minutes and 11 seconds while Kelvin Johnson (15: 30) was third.

Among the women Kerticha John claimed the top spot in a time of 19 minutes and 11 seconds to be followed by Christine Regis in (19:34) and Danielle Collymore in 19:36.

In other cycling results the evergreen Ronald Peters once again won the Veterans 60-plus event while Joey Nunes was second.

Mark Messiah claimed the Veterans 50-plus race and he was followed closely by Kent Luces and Andy Chalmers.

Tinymites: 1- Jimmone Roberts, 2- A Campbell, 3- K Charles- Walcott.

Women: 1- A Constantine, 2- A Reyes, T Frontin.

Juveniles: 1- Varun Maharaj, 2- Shane Nedd, 3- Justin Roberts. Juniors: 1- Gerod Williams, 2- Mario Forde, 3- King Ettiene.

Veterans 40-Plus: 1- Gene Samuel, 2- Roger Smart, 3- Rodney Woods. Category: 1- Daniel Wallen, 2- Paul De Verteuil, 3- Hasely Alexis.

Open: 1- L Blackwood, 2- W Mc Kay, 3- O’Neil St Clair.