| From the BVI Cycling Federation Tour de Tortola
Marsh won the 40-mile race that went in the opposite direction for the first time, in two hours, 24 minutes and 34 seconds. Gauchi and Douglas were credited with the same time, 2:41.21. “It was hard race, harder than what it used to be because they went the opposite way,” acknowledged Marsh. “On the road along the coast, instead of the wind being on your back, it’s in your face in this one. You still have the hills and the wind on your back going uphill doesn’t give any help at all. That makes it a harder race.”
Marsh said it was easier for him to win the reverse course. He said that on the old course, more people would be with him on the way to West End entering the Steel Point off road section. “I haven’t been on a mountain bike in four years, so it was easier for me to win this way,” he said. “Bryan (Lyn) and I got away on the last hard hill going to East End. When I got to the top of the hill, I noticed there was a small gap so I just told him, ‘let’s go’ and we just opened a gap on the guys all the way to the airport and back towards the hills at the Prison. I wanted to stay with Bryan to the prison at least, but then I saw Al gaining on us so I had to leave Bryan.” Gauchi said he didn’t know how to gauge the new course because he hadn’t raced on the old one. “I tell you, the new one, the way it is now, is very challenging. It just doesn’t let up,” he noted. “If the hills don’t get you, it’s the headwind coming back (from West End) will put the strain on you. It was the first time I was against Marsh and we dueled it up on hill number four heading towards the airport. I eased off the pedal and that was my first mistake right there. They attacked and I was playing catch up ever since from there.”
In the sprint finish with Douglas, Gauchi said his legs were cramping. “I didn’t think I had that much in me,” he said. “Basically, I was almost accepting third place. I dug deep and I’m happy with second.” Douglas, in his first tour, said he was satisfied with the race and the organization of the event. “The whole race was hard,” he noted. “It’s a challenging course and I love a challenge, that’s what bring the whole body and mind together.” Women’s winner Patlian Johnson said the tour was harder than last year. “The conditions weren’t too bad because it wasn’t sunny, but the rains made it difficult coming downhill,” she said. “That was a problem causing me to slip. But, I felt good. I rode all the hills and didn’t get off.” Darel Christopher Jr. 14, the youngest rider in the field, won the Fun/Novice division. Young Christopher rode all the hills. “It was fun,” he said. “I tried not the let the guys who were chasing me, beat me.” Federation president David Thomas said the race was interesting and it seemed participants liked the challenge. “I keep hearing that they thought the climbs would never let up, but I think that made it different. The general consensus so far, was that people really enjoyed it,” Thomas said. “From the time they left the airport and crossed the bridge, you literally climbed from sea level to 1800 feet. The climbs today were not severely steep like Windy Hill. There were decent gentle grades, false flats and you had some areas like Hope Hill that were insanely steep but, that lasted only two to three minutes. But, then the race just kept going up and up and up. It presented a different challenge. You had to have a totally different mindset for it today. People seemed to have enjoyed it and it was good to watch.”
Final results: 1. Robert Marsh, Antigua, 2 hours, 23 minutes and 34 seconds. 2. Al Gauchi, 2:41.21. 3. Reggie Douglas, Nevis, 2:41.21. 4. Bryan Lyn, Antigua, 2:47.11. 5. Phillippe Leroy, 2:56.32. 6. Mark Bailey, 3:04.41. 7. Neil Thomas, 3:05.33. 8. Darel Christopher, Sr., 3:12.03. 9. Conrad Emmanuel, 3:33.13. 10. Clifton Forbes, 3:34.35. 11. Eldon Solomon, 3:42.29. 12. Joe Giacinto, 4:05.48. 13. Tom Merrigan, 4:13.13. 14. Mark McKenzie, 4:21.04. Women: 1. Patlian Johnson, 3:12.22. 2. Jackie Wilson, 3:52.00. Fun-Novice: 1. Darel Christopher Jr., 2:47.56. 2. Mark Smith, 3:02.44. © Copyright 2003 BVI Cycling Federation |
