SIMPSON BAY—VCG’s Dean Hodge will wear the green and white NAGICO leader’s jersey this morning after he won the 2.5K time trial on the Causeway Bridge last night to set the 2016 NAGICO 2 NAGICO cycle race on the road.
Hodge won the prologue in 2:43, just a hundredths of a second faster than the second placed Luis Sablon from the Guadeloupe VCS team with the same time. Sablon finished second in the overall classification last year.
Riders departed at one minute intervals from the Cole Bay side but faced a strong headwind on the return.
Third fastest was VCG’s new rider, the Colombian Ever Rivera in 2:44, fourth place went PDL’s Loéc Laviolette, and fifth to Styven Mango from the USL team.
VCG’s Ludovic Turpin finished eighth (2:47) and it was interesting to VCG’s young rising star Alban Clerc in the B team finish in 14th place (2:49) a long way in front of last year’s overall winner from VCG, Nicolas Dumont in 20th place (2:51).
But a good time trial time, a discipline in its own right, is no guarantee success can be maintained in the long races to come. Dean Hodge will enjoy the moment of glory today but will most likely settle into a supporting “domestique” role for the stars of the A team, Ludovic Turpin and Nicolas Dumont.
Results from the Cadets category were not immediately available. One mixed team features Mo Trouble riders Mark Maidwell and Ronan Garnier.
The Causeway Bridge was the scene of a huge gathering of riders, race officials, organisers, sponsors, elected officials, and cycling fans.
Préféte Anne Laubies and the Collectivité’s Vice-President Ramon Connor joined Minister of Sports, Youth and Culture Silveria Jacobs, NAGICO CEO Imran McSood and his wife, and other NAGICO executives to give opening remarks and cut the ribbon to launch three days of exciting racing.
Today’s 80K race starts in Grand Case at 8:15am taking the peloton to French Quarter and thereon to Oyster Pond, and a circuit to be ridden seven times before finishing at Angel’s Insurance in French Quarter.
Saturday afternoon is 6K time trial starting at 3:00pm from French Quarter and finishing at the Minguet Art Gallery on the top of Morne O’Reilly.
Sunday’s 120K race starts in Philipsburg at the NAGICO headquarterstaking the riders Cole Bay, Bellevue, Marigot, Agrément, Omni Sports Hall, Waterfront, Tourism Office, Sandy Ground, Baie Nettle, La Samanna, Princess Juliana Airport, Causeway Bridge and back to Bellevue and Agrement. This circuit has to be completed three times.
They then continue to Rambaud, French Quarter, back to Marigot, tourism office, Sandy Ground, Bellevue, Agrément, Omni Sports Hall, and the final sprint to the finish in front of NAGICO on Rue de La République.
“52 riders from mostly regional teams are contesting the race”
