Elite Women Time Trial winner Nicole Erato in action on Saturday. (Jesus Richardson photo)
SIMPSON BAY—Despite the short notice, the first St. Maarten National Cycling Championship to be inscribed into International Cycling Union (UCI) body’s annual calendar passed off successfully at the weekend with a full turnout of riders in all categories,
The championship consisted of a 20K Time Trial on the Saturday and a Road Race on Sunday with three distances 70K, 47K and a 23K for novices.
“This is a big deal for us,” exclaimed St. Maarten Cycling Federation’s Susy Piscione. “This was the first UCI national championship for Dutch St. Maarten and it had to be done in June. All the licensed riders now have a UCI ranking and points. It was an open race for everyone to enter and get points but only the Dutch-side athletes get the ranking and national championship status.”
The 20K time trial (two laps between La Samanna and Baie Nettle) saw Wilson Sanon (Excelsior) in the Juniors category clock the fastest overall time of 31:04 followed in second place by ASM’s Reni Arrondell winning the Elite’s category with a time of 31:12.
Arrondell won the time trial in 2020 with a time of 30:55 but this time he had fall at the beginning when his hand accidentally slipped off the handle bar.
Mo Trouble’s Mark Maidwell won Masters A in 33:21, Blade Carty Masters B in 34:15, and Luc Gorostiza (SXM Tri Academie) Masters C in 34:43.
The Youth category was won by VCSG’s Rolando Lake in 34:47 with team mate Jahkim Carty in second in 35:41. Nicole Erato won the Elite Women (35:39) with Murielle Lancien Paul second (40:01) and Isabelle Adams third (40:37).
Wilson Sanon once again turned in a stunning performance to win the 70K road race in the Junior’s category in 2:05 41, some 10 minutes faster than the Elite winner, ASM’s Kianny Noel (2:15:24).
Susy Piscione (Tri Sport Tigers) won the Elite Women 47K race in 1:44:41. VCSG’s Blade Carty won Masters B 47K in 1:30:17 and Romeo Lake won Masters C 47K in 1:37:20. VCSG’s Jahkim Carty won the Youth category 47K in 1:27:28. Felix Fabien won Novice Men 23K in 46:18.
National Champions for the Time Trial were: Dean Hodge (Elite Men), Nicole Erato (Elite women), Seven Romney (Juniors), Karl Spijker (Masters B), Jocelyn Levenstone (Masters C), and Edsel Jansen (Novice).
National Champions for the Road Race were: Mark Maidwell (Elite 70K), Susy Piscione (Elite women 47K), Seven Romney (Juniors 70K), Karl Spiker (Masters B 47K), Otis Cotton Masters C 47K) and Edsel Jansen (Novice 23K).
Susy Piscione disclosed that St. Maarten has registered for the UCI National Mountain Bike Championship which will be held on July 25.
