National endurance cyclist Varun Maharajh won the 35-lap main event ahead of top regional and international riders at the Michael Phillips Republic Day Cycling Classic at Nelson Mandela Park in St Clair, on Thursday.
With four laps to go, Maharajh was all alone in front, opening up a lead of over 100 metres with five riders in pursuit including national rider Adam Alexander and Barbadian Jamol Eastmond. Maharajh, who had some mechanical issues earlier in the race, maintained the lead, only easing up in the last lap when he knew no one could catch him. The Rigtech Sonics rider won in a time of 56 minutes and 33 seconds.
Team Foundation and Dominican Republic duo Norlandy Sanchez and Rafael Meran had to settle for second and third respectively. Marloe Rodman of Jamaica and Ernesto Salazar of Venezuela rounded off the top five. Defending champion Phillip Clarke of Barbados had to settle for eighth place overall. The race was competitive throughout, as many lap prizes were up for grabs. After the race Maharajh said, “It’s an amazing feeling to come back home and win a race home, especially a race this big. This is one of the premier events for the year. I had a couple mechanicals, but bad luck turns into good luck.” The Sonics rider says he is hoping to take this form into the Tobago International Cycling Classic which starts on Tuesday. “It’s next week so I will definitely have it for sure. Climbing is not my strong point but the majority of the flat stages I will be firing.”
In the Clinton Grant Sprint one lap event, Rodman won ahead of T&T duo Jude Codrington and Justin Roberts. Action will now turn to the Tobago International Cycling Classic which takes place in Tobago from Tuesday until October 4.
SELECTED RESULTS
Main Event (35 laps)
1 Varun Maharajh— Rigtech Sonics—T&T—56:33
2 Norlandy Sanchez—Team Foundation—Dominican Republic
3 Rafael Meran—Team Foundation—Dominican Republic
4 Marloe Rodman—Team PSL—Jamaica
5 Ernesto Salazar—The Braves—Venezuela
6 Frederic Guillent—Knights—France
7 Joshua Alexander—Team DPS—T&T
8 Phillip Clarke - Heatwave—Barbados
Clinton Grant Sprint (one lap)
1 Marloe Rodman—Team PSL—Jamaica
2 Jude Codrington—Team DPS—T&T
3 Justin Roberts—Team DPS—T&T
4 Jamol Eastmond—Heatwave— Barbados
Women's Senior (eight laps)
1 Teneil Campbell—Rigtech Sonics—T&T
2 Cheyenne Awai—Unattached—T&T
3 Dahlia Palmer—Team DPS—Jamaica
Elite Three and Four (six laps)
1 Kenverne Braithwaithe—Team PSL
2 Rupert Jones—The Braves
3 Ian Price—Slipstream
Junior Male (eight laps)
1 Tyler Cole—Rigtech Sonics—T&T
2 Romelle Crawford—Team PSL—T&T
3 Ramon Belmontes—Team DPS—T&T
Master 40-49
1 R. Balgobin - Hummingbirds - T&T
2 David Tardieu - Breakaway - T&T
3 Pasha Hosein - Slipstream - T&T
Tinymites (three laps)
1 Enrique Pablo - Unattached - T&T
2 Malique Samuel - Team Easy Goers - T&T
3 D'Angelo Harris - Rigtech Sonics - T&T
Women Junior (eight laps)
1 Sylese Christian - Rigtech Sonics - T&T
Juvenile (eight laps)
1 Jabari Whiteman - Southclaine -T&T
2 Aaron Alleyne - Rigtech Sonics - T&T
3 Thair Alexander - Team Woods - T&T
Masters 70+ (three laps)
1 Joey Nunes - Hummingbirds
2 Lennox Parris - Southhampton
3 Benny Sumair - Southhampton
Masters 50-59 (six laps)
1 Martin Wharwood - Hummingbirds
2 Sheldon Cockburn - Knights
3 Cyril Fook - Team PSL