SIMPSON BAY--Association Sportif de Marigot (ASM) elite riders Kianny Noel, Kenny Carty and Réni Arrondell (winner of race one in Pointe Blanche) dominated race two of the Friendly Island Cycling Championship series held in Simpson Bay on Sunday.
It was the first time brothers Kianny and Kenny ever raced together. The ASM team is being coached by the boy’s father, former top cyclist Keith "the decease" Carty. The peloton was unable to rein in the breakaway trio and Kianny ended up winning the sprint ahead of his brother Kenny who was closely followed by Reni.
The intermediate sprint bonus in the Elite category was won by Kenny "El Pirato" Carty who was recently selected to ride in the Guadeloupe national selection. Some 12 riders, including Tri Sport’s Dean Hodge Jr, started the Elite race.
Sunday’s race turned out to be an exciting event with more than 56 cyclists braving wind and rain to participate in six different race categories, namely Elite (69 km), Master A (57 km), Master B ( 45 km), Novice ( 33 km), Female (45 km), Youth 12 - 16 years old (45 km). This was an increase of more than 35 per cent in participants compared to race one.
Cyclists from St. Maarten, St. Martin and Anguilla participated in this race, vying for some US $400 in cash prizes, plus another $60 for intermediate sprint bonuses. The intermediate sprint location was at Bell's lookout point on the top of Cole Bay Hill. The youngest participant was 11, while the oldest was 63 years old.
The race started on Airport road near the Causeway roundabout, after which the riders rode towards Cole Bay, turning right at the Kruythoff roundabout, going up the hill to the roundabout at the entrance to Indigo Bay. They then rode back to Airport Road via Union Road and the Causeway Bridge to the Maho roundabout. After that they did laps between the Maho and Causeway roundabouts.
A strong head wind and all categories riding at the same time made it a very technical race. Several podium finishers benefited by drafting behind stronger riders in other categories to advance their positions. Due to the circuit nature of the course, drafting was allowed and all cyclists were informed of this in advance.
Mo Trouble’s Mark Maidwell dominated the Master A category from start to finish after he made an early break away from the main group. Maidwell was joined on the podium by teammate Bienvenido "Papi" Carty who cleverly drafted off of some Elite category riders to catch Otis Cotton who was quite a distance ahead of him. Papi eventually outsprinted Otis to claim second place.
Police Inspector Claudio Ellis of Mo Trouble cycling club showed a great return to form when he was able to outsprint Ralph Bredl, the winner of race one, to claim victory in the Master B category. Kendrick Cocks-Constant also of the Mo Trouble finished in the third place. Ralph Bredl won the intermediate sprint bonus.
Jakhim Carty (12) of the Sandy Ground VCSG cycling club who finished 3rd in race one secured a convincing win in the Youth 12 - 16 years old category. Wilson Sanon (JCO from French Quarter) finished in second place for the second time. He was the winner of the intermediate sprint bonus. Yusoufe Destouche (ASM) finished third.
Race one winner Suzy Maidwell of Tri Sport finished in second place, unable to contain newcomer and triathlon specialist Caroline Delpanque who secured a convincing victory in the female category. Annee Blaum finished third closing out the podium places. Cycling club VCSG dominated the Novice category with Juliani Claxton claiming first place followed by teammate D'Andrey Burgan in second place. Jimmy Carty finished third.
This race was sponsored by NNEWS, Riders on Two 2.0, Tri Sport and LaVista Resort/Hide Away Restaurant. Special thanks to the officers of the police bike patrol, all the volunteers, Caribbean Eagles, Tribal Hogs, Youth Brigade, Debi Sport Pics and WIEMS.
