BELAIR--The Friendly Island Cycling Championship Series (FICCS) continued with Race 3 on Sunday, May 19, with the start and finish of the race at the Raoul Illidge Sports Complex (RISC).
Some 35 riders braved extreme humid conditions to compete for top honors in six categories namely Elite, Master A, Master B, Youth 12 – 16-year-old, Females and Novices.
Riders were required to ride towards Le Grand Marche/Carrefour roundabout, Bush Road, Prins Bernard Bridge, Longwall Road, former Great Bay Hotel, Belair road and back to RISC. There was one major climb in the circuit to navigate at former Great Bay hotel. A significant head wind on the Bush Road posed a challenge for some riders.
History was made on Sunday as Daniel “Super D” Griffith of Neutral News, teamed up with Reginald Richardson of VID Media and Walwyn “Cico" Fransico Drone Master to stream this race via FACEBOOK LIVE. Some 200+ viewers in Holland, France, Aruba, United States and Guadeloupe logged on to view this race. The streaming was facilitated through the kind courtesy of TellCell's 4G LTE internet data platform.
The races started at 1:00 pm with the Youth 12-16 category doing 29km or six laps, the Female- and Novices category doing four laps or 20km.
Rising cycling star Wilson Sanon of the JCO team from French Quarter proved to be the strongest rider but was severely tested and weakened by a barrage of tactical attacks from three riders (Yusoufe Detouche, Romerick Thomas and Declau Grell) all from the ASM cycling team out of Marigot.
In the end, Wilson who was fresh off a victory in the Jamida Webster Cycling Race in Anguilla on April 28, allowed himself to be caught off guard when Yusoufe who was dropped on the last climb of the former Great Bay hill managed to rejoin the leading pack of three riders namely Wilson, Romerick and Declau and immediately launched a counterattack.
Wilson was unable to respond and of course other ASM riders didn’t follow or assist. In the end, Wilson barely managed to outsprint Declau Grell for third place to avoid an ASM sweep. Yusoufe took top honors followed by Romerick in second place. ASM coaches Keith “Deceased” Carty and Eddy Grell executed a brilliant tactical game plan almost to perfection.
The Maidwell cycling dynasty continued with sister Susy Piscione securing her second victory and brother Mark his third consecutive win in respectively the Female - and Master A category. Other podium spots in the female category went to Anne Blaum finishing second and newcomer triathlete Arouska Richardson took third place. 16-year-old Sharina was a first-time participant.
On the final lap of the 40km Master A race Mark Maidwell launched a ferocious attack. Otis Cotton (Trek) and Romero “Meme" Lake (VCSG) were unable to respond. Mark subsequently cruised to victory whilst Otis, Papi and Meme sprinted for second and third place. In a surprising twist Meme outsprinted well known Mo Trouble top sprinter Papi to take third place whilst Otis Cotton took second place to complete the Masters A podium positions.
Newcomers Emmanuel Jarmin(JCO) and Siegniel Comenencia (MO Trouble ) took first and second place in the Master B category while George Farrel took third place.
Jimmy Carty secured his first ever victory in the Novices category after two previous podium finishes while newcomer Harold Saberon finished second. Randy Sherwood showed tremendous improvement to finish third in just his third race.
In the Elite category Kianny Noel outsprinted Remy Arrondell both of ASM for their third consecutive first and second place finishes. Both riders broke away from the main peloton in the early stages and managed to stay away despite attempts from Bram Sanderson out of Dominica to close the gap.
Unfortunately, Bram crashed out of the race leaving Travis McGarry and Ridge Bannis to sprint for third place. Travis opened the sprint early on the Belair Road but eventually ran out of gas which allowed Ridge to outsprint him for third place and his second podium finish.
Race organizers thanked all the participants and supporters. Special thanks to officers of the police bike patrol, Suzy Piscione of Tri Sport, Raymond Jacobs, Mario Bartlett, Gennie Hanley, cameraman Max Lake NNEWS, Moran Richardson, Lili Amelie Anselme, Riders on two 2.0, Russ, Best Buy Gas station in French Quarter, Debra Hodge Hyman (Debi Sport pics) and all others who contributed towards making this event a success.
The next race is tentatively scheduled for June 30, 2019 in the Philipsburg/Middle Region area.
