MARIGOT--Benjamin Le Ny can add St. Martin to his palmarès after clinching first place in the overall standings of the first Grand Prix Regional Cycliste de la Collectivité on Sunday.
The Uni Sport Lamentinois (USL) team leader and Tour de Guadeloupe 2023 winner was the highest profile name in a field of high-calibre professional riders and his win was not unexpected. He held on to the yellow jersey throughout the three days after winning the prologue on Friday. It must be said the cream of St. Martin’s cycling talent held their own extremely well in this high level event, that included a brutal 95K opening race on Saturday morning followed by a 72K race in the afternoon, with little time for recovery, and then the final showdown on Sunday with three laps of the entire island. The USL team was first in the “Classement General” after three days of racing; Benjamin Le Ny first (8h 14.13), Yannis Agricole second, and Fendly Boyeau third.
The highest place finish for a St. Martin rider was Jahkim Carty in fifth place overall (8h 26.28), after he overcame several mechanicals, and even a broken bike moments before the start of the first race on Saturday. SXM Tri Académie’s Fabien Husson was seventh overall followed by Rolandio Lake Rogers in ninth place and ASM’s Kianny Noel in 10th place. Sunday’s race was won by USL’s Yannis Agricole, followed by team mate Benjamin Le Ny, and Freddy Hamlet from P. Josephine in third place. An outstanding effort from St. Martin selection rider Rolandio Lake Rogers, saw him cross the line, no doubt in the red zone, to take fifth place. He immediately collapsed to the ground causing concern among onlookers but it turned out to be temporary back pain. “My back was hurting after Saturday’s afternoon race, and today I forced it which is why I suffered at the end,” said Lake Rogers afterwards. “I was in front for the whole race. I’m satisfied with all my races.” In a fragmented finish, riders came in minutes apart, an indication of the accumulative toll the event took on all the riders. SXM Tri Académie’s Fabien Husson crossed the line in seventh place and St. Martin selection’s Jahkim Carty in ninth place. Husson’s teammate Gregoire Pigeon called it quits after having a flat, nearly crashing at one stage, and falling too far behind. Friday’s prologue in Grand Case saw Le Ny take the winning time but ASM riders Dyclaï Nagau Grell and team mate Kianny Noel (third and fifth best time respectively) had brilliant rides as did Jahkim Carty (seventh best time) Saturday’s first race, won by USL’s Fendley Boyeau, saw the peloton ride five loops of the Simpson Bay Lagoon, including a bone-jarring section through Mullet Bay and then a lung-busting climb up Cupecoy Hill.
Jahkim Carty finished in fourth place earning the “Best Young Rider” red jersey. Lake Rogers came in ninth and ASM’s Dyclaï Nagau Grell in 10th. The afternoon race to French Quarter was won by USL’s Benjamin Le Ny with VCS’s Kélian Duro second, and P. Josephine’s Freddy Hamlet in third. SXM’s Tri Academie’s Fabien Husson finished fourth in this race and Jahkim Carty eighth. At the awards ceremony the Best Young Riders trophies went to first; Yannis Agricole (USL), second Tony Chris Vanony (VCS) and third Rolandio Lake Rogers (St. Martin selection). Best Climber went to Boyeau Fendley (USL) and Best Team to USL. Teams from St. Martin, Anguilla, Guadeloupe (3), Marie Galante, Martinique, Trinidad and Tobago, French Guiana, Haiti and Dominican Republic took part in the event. President of the Collectivité Louis Mussington and Vice President Alain Richardson were at the start on Sunday to wish the riders good luck. The smooth running of the event, especially the attention to security and traffic control, ensures this Grand Prix will be an annual fixture.
