Samuel, Campbell claim Road Race hat-tricks

The defending champion, had his main competitor Akil Campbell (Team DPS), attacking at almost every opportunity as the peleton left the start/finish line at Brian Lara Stadium, Tarouba, and went through the hills of the Central Range.

Campbell, the new National Time Trial and Criterium champion, was able to break free and with approximately 98km remaining, he opened a 35-second lead. Campbell would be reeled in by a bunch containing Samuel, Guy Costa (Heatwave), James Hadeed (Heatwave) and Collin Wilson (Braves).

As they ascended once again through the Central Range, Campbell and Samuel distanced themselves from their rivals and took the bell with 49km remaining and a comfortable two-minute lead.

It was during the third ascension through Gran Couva when Campbell began to experience cramps in his legs, leaving the fresher of the two, Samuel, to easily ride away and finish in a time of four hours, 21 minutes and 15 seconds. Campbell would secure silver just under two minutes behind, while Costa was third.

Teniel Campbell (Team DPS) also completed her three-peat of National Road titles for 2016 as she convincingly captured the Elite Women’s crown. Teneil dispatched her closest rivals early in the race and never looked back as she completed the 98km course in 3:14:26, some 14 minutes ahead of her closest competitor, Jessica Costa (Heatwave), while Cheyenne Awai (Breakaway) settled for bronze.

In the Junior Men, Lorenzo Orosco (Breakaway) pedalled to the top of the podium after out-sprinting Ronell Woods (Team Woods) for the crown. Justice Philemon (Unattached) held on to third place overall. Meanwhile, Zion Pulido (Sonics) became the Juvenile Men’s champion when he too was faster than Enrique De Comarmond (Heatwave) in a mad dash for the line.

Both the Junior and Juvenile Men categories were without their marquee cyclists, Tyler Cole (Team DPS) and Jabari Whiteman (Southclaine) respectively, as they decided to place full focus on representing the red, white and black at the Junior Pan American Track Cycling Championships in just under three weeks-time.