Powreade 50-mile cycle race … Jamal John and Junior Niles continue winning blitz; Keon Thomas repeats

Apr 03, 2017 Sports, http://www.kaieteurnewsonline....keon-thomas-repeats/

By Franklin Wilson
In yet another display of discipline and class, Team Coco’s (TC) Jamal John overcame wind pain to record another victory, this time in the 7th annual Powerade sponsored 50-mile road race which was contested on the West Demerara, yesterday.

Coming up against 19 other senior riders in a total field of 46 competitors which included the lone female, Deance Welch of Trojan Cycle Club (TCC) of Berbice, John rode another strategic race to come out victor in One Hour 57 Minutes 16 Seconds; the race commenced at the Wales Police Station West Bank Demerara before proceeding to Bushy Park on the East Bank of Essequibo returning to end at Schoonord, just off the Demerara Harbour Bridge.
Trailing John to the line was Digicel Team Evolution’s (DTE) Paul Nobrega and Akeem Wilkinson, Team Alanis’ (TA) Alanso Ambrose and Trojan’s Jason Cameron and Romello Crawford to close out the top six finishers.
Speaking after the race, John said he felt he was a bit lucky to have won after he was experiencing severe wind pain coming into the Vreed-en-Hoop junction on the homeward journey. He said, that apart, the race was close with a short gap established before the turn back point but the riders connected again after turning back at Bushy Park.
He made good his escape from the pack after turning at Vreed-en-Hoop, the rest is now history.
Cameron was also the top junior on display, capping a fine day; he won this category ahead of DTE’s and reigning Junior National champion Christopher Cornelius with TCC’s Romello Crawford closing out the top three positions.
Dominant yet again in the veteran segment of the race was TC’s Junior Niles, who won in One Hour 20 Minutes 50 Seconds, leaving his closest rival this season Lear Nunes in second place with Ralph Williams third.
Successfully defending his top position from last year was Keon Thomas in the Mountain Bike category; Shane Bourne was second with Ozia Macullay, third.
Representing Banks DIH, the official bottlers of Powerade at yesterday’s event was Ms. Marissa Moonsammy who expressed the company’s gratitude to organizer Hassan Mohamed for allowing them the opportunity to continue sponsoring the event.
Moonsammy also extended thanks to the cyclists who made the event possible whilst commending the respective category winners. Trophies and cash incentives were presented to the top six seniors as well as the top three juniors, veterans and lone female.
Mohamed thanked Banks DIH/Powerade for continuing their support of cyclists and their development.