| From the BVI Cycling Federation National News
“This was a very tactical race today although the average speeds were way down, but there were moments when people were going pretty hard and feeling each other out and attacking,” Ghiorse recalled. “Antigua—God bless them—they were severely outnumbered and I told the guys that with so few Antiguans, we really have to ride our own race for each other. That was kind of happening, but at one point we were so effectively chasing each other down, that I thought, it would be shameful if Antigua with two guys end up with the win.” Ghiorse covered the three lap circuit from Road Town to West End in 2 hours, 58 minutes and 56 seconds, the same time as Smith. Antigua’s Omari King won the second sprint to take third in 3:02.11 ahead of his coach Neil Lloyd and Andrew “Tubes” Thompson—who made a breakaway move on the second lap before the field reeled him in. Lisa Adamson—the top woman who completed her 2-lap circuit in 2:01.08 and continued with the guys—was seventh overall, finishing behind Ray Wearmouth and ahead of Gareth Thomas.
Smith said it was a hard race and he was cramping on the second of three laps, worked hard to catch up after the break but nothing was happening. “The Antiguan guys were really pushing it so I did my best to keep up with it. On the way back from West End, Chris had a break and I caught him, then I had a break and he caught me,” Smith explained. “We worked together but I was cramping. By the time I cross the line I had nothing left and Christ rode past me.” King said he could not have finished third if Lloyd did not cover the attacks for him—and he thanked Lloyd for that. “I learnt a lot from this race today, but I couldn’t’ do it without my coach,” said King who took up riding six months ago. “He brought me through this.” Lloyd said he expected the BVI guys to gang up on him and knew he had to work extra hard to try and counter every attack. “But, Chris and his teammate work on me in the last lap and came out victorious,” he said. “But, I’ll meet him in the OECS Championships. Cycling is improving in the BVI and there are a lot of guys that can handle themselves and I hope they can do that in the OECS (Championships) and some of the time, they must want to win and not let Chris win, that’s the way you’re going to get good.”
Lloyd said in Antigua, Robert Marsh—who has won several races on Tortola—is the top rider and they always aim to beat him, regardless. “When you win, you get the glory,” he noted. “When you keep on winning all the time, the younger ones are going to say, ‘Chris will win today’ and they are not going to do the work. BVI has a good youngster in Darel and I cuss him in the race because he can be very aggressive but, he’s holding back. He need to stop sucking wheels and show his youth and that will bring him out.” Final results; 60 miles: 1. Chris Ghiorse, 2 hours, 58 minutes and 56 seconds. 2. Mark smith, 2:58.56. 3. Omari King, Antigua, 3:02.11. 4. Neil Lloyd, Antigua, 3:01.11. 5. Andrew “Tubes” Thompson, 3:02.11. 6. Ray Warmouth, 3:02.11. 7. Lisa Adamson, 3:02.11. 8. Gareth Thomas, 3:02.11. 9. Anthony Spenser, 3:06.58. 10. Orano Andrews,St. Vincent, 3:16.09. 11. Conrad “Manny” Emmanuel, 3:26.35. 12. Ian Mann, 3:32.35. 13. Darrel Clyne, 3:48.53. Neil Thomas(DNF) 40 miles: 1. Darel Christopher Jr., 2:09.57. 2. Peter Lader, 2:17.07. 3. Matt Crossman, 2:17.10. 4. Sherman King, 2:23.12. 5. Dara Smith, 2:27.15. Kay Reddy(DNF) Fun/Novice: 1. Rusty Burns, 1:15.05. 2. Sally Blackmore, 1:25.39.. 3. Mike Doyle, 1:32.44
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