MARIGOT—St. Martin proved this weekend that it can put on one of the toughest cycle races out there to test the best. To put that into perspective, just 18 riders were able to complete the third stage on Sunday from the original 53 who started on Saturday.
For the seven teams competing in this high caliber two-day French Overseas Departments Championship, it was certainly a wake-up call, with the combination of intense heat and a never ending series of energy-sapping hills exacting a heavy toll on riders.
Emerging victorious from the long list of DNFs (did not finish) was Guadeloupe’s Luis Sablon capturing first place in the overall classification in 4 hours 45:52. In second overall was Tarula Krainer from Tahiti, and third overall went to Martinique’s Axel Carnier.
The 31-year-old Sablon gave notice to rivals that winning the first 48K race on Saturday was just an aperitif. After four loops of a course that included repeated climbs up Mount William and Defiance Haven, Sablon came into view at the top of the steep Cakehouse Hill to cross the line first, followed by Tahiti’s Tarula Krainer and Martinique’s Axel Carnier.
Ludovic Turpin for the St. Martin Selection finished fifth with Gregory Blondin in sixth. St. Martin Selection coach Patricio “Blade” Carty praised the efforts of the two Juniors in the selection. Turpin went on to win the afternoon’s 15K Individual Time Trial in 18: 25 followed by Martinique’s Thierry Ragot in 18:34 and a recovered Luis Sablon third, 18:37. By coming third in the time trial Sablon was able to tighten his grip on the leader’s jersey.
Sunday’s race had to be altered as the Dutch side announced Saturday evening it was not able to organize its part of the race on Sunday due to hurricane preparations. That meant the course was changed to three circuits of Lowlands to French Quarter, increasing the distance to 113K.
St. Martin Selection’s Jayson Rousseau won Sunday’s race in a sprint with French Guiana’s Patrice Ringuet. Luis Sablon coasted in for third place one minute behind in 3: 05:38. Jayson’s win elevated him up to sixth overall in the final classification. He finished 10th in Saturday’s first race and 11th in the time trial.
“I knew if I stayed with the pack I wouldn’t have any chance of winning, so I broke away before Marigot to get a two minute advance on them,” said Rousseau of the last leg to French Quarter. “I was on my own. Ludovic (Turpin) was surrounded so he couldn’t do anything. Gregory Errin got dropped so I took my own chance. We didn’t have the flat sections of the Dutch-side but I won the NAGICO race before in the same circumstances. I was very pleased to win but also to see so much security for this race.”
The Dutch-side team which was not eligible for the prizes saw Mark Maidwell and Dick Luttekes gamely attempting to keep up with these elite riders. Wilfred Chittick finished 35th in Saturday’s first race, Maidwell 42nd and Hillard Cijntje 43rd. Maidwell was seen back in action in Sunday’s race, but not Luttekes. Hillard Cijntje finished 10th in Sunday’s race and 17th overall according to the results.
Said President of the Territorial Cycling Committee that organized the event, Daniel Remi: “I want to thank the Dutch side first for allowing us to have part of the event on their side. I’m very pleased, it went very well for the first time. The most important thing is that no one got hurt. The fact that some of these top riders abandoned shows that we don’t have to go away to train to get the level. We have a very difficult course here and it is good for progress in cycling.”
President of the French Cycling Federation (FFC) Michel Callot expressed his satisfaction with the event given the difficulties of no alternative roads to use and heavy traffic. The only disappointment for him was that Mayotte was not able to compete.
“The preparation done by the Territorial Cycling Committee, the Collectivité, all the volunteers, the Gendarmerie and Police was excellent. We had a beautiful but difficult course that was well secured,” he said.
The location for the next championship will be decided in February 2018.
