PHILIPSBURG--Reni Arrondell took top honours in the first race of the Friendly Island Cycling Championship Series on Sunday. Cycling on St. Maarten has been dormant since July 2018.
In an effort to revitalize the sport, Neutral News, Riders on Two, Mo Trouble cycling club, Tri Sports and the St.Maarten Cycling Federation joined forces to organize a series of races dubbed the Friendly Island Cycling Championship Series.
The first race of the 2019 season, the Pointe Blanche Cycling Classic saw cyclists racing from Goldfinch road looping around the Pointe Blanche area then down to the roundabout next to Sundial school and back.
Some 36 riders participated in this race spread out over 6 different categories namely Elite (15 laps, 60km), Master A (15 laps 60 km), Master B ( 7 laps, 28 km), Novice ( 4 laps 16 km), Female (5 laps 20 km), Youth 12 - 16 years old (10 laps)
The Elite was dominated from start to finish by Reni Arrondell and Kianny Noel from the ASM team on the French side as they broke away from the peloton early leaving Ridge Bannis and Sherwin Osborne trying to close the gap.
In the end the race was won by Reni Arrondell closely followed by Kianny Noel. Ridge Bannis finished in third place.
The Master A category featured a Mo Trouble tag team of Mark Maidwell and Bienvenido " Papie" Carti versus the lone VCSG rider Romeo "Meme" Lake. In the Maidwell won the sprint ahead of Carti. Meme finished minutes after in third place to close out the podium positions.
The Master B category was dominated from early on by 60+ year old Ralph Bredl from the USA. Newcomer Henry Susanna of Mo Trouble finished in second place out sprinting his teammate Claudio Ellis.
In the Youth 12- 16 years old category, Deanthony Niles of the Double Trouble cycling club from Anguilla broke away from the pack in the early stage of the race, however 2 laps from the finish he was caught back by Sanon Wilson of the JCO team from French Quarter. Despite a great effort, Wilson was unable to beat Niles in the sprint finish. Jakhim "JaJa" Carty from VCSG cycling club from Sandy Ground finished third.
Susy Piscione from Tri Sports reigned supreme in the female category, she was closely followed by Sharon Bredl from the USA. Isabelle Adams finished in the third spot.
Seven Romney from Cyclone Cycling club finished first in the Novice category, James Morris came in second place followed by Randy Sherwood.
The race was made possible with officers of the police bike patrol, officer Rumini Rogers, the volunteers of the Youth Brigade who assisted with traffic safety, sponsors Interline Connections Shadilla Notias, Bob van der Mark of St. Maarten Shipping and Stevedoring, Suzy Piscione of Tri Sports, Gennie Hanley, Super D and Max NNEWS, Moran Richardson and Riders on two.
The next race will be held on March 24, in the Simpson Bay, Airport, Maho area.
