NEVIS CYCLE & TRIATHLON CLUB

The second installment of the Nevis Independence Road Race was a tremendous success; and the Nevis Cycle & Triathlon Club, the organizers are elated with its outcome. The race commenced at 2:30 pm on Saturday, 9th September with a field of seventeen (17). Fourteen (14) were faced with the challenge of the 55-mile Elite Category, and three (3) set off to complete the 33-mile course of the Novice Category. The field consisted of eight (8) competitors from St. Martin, one (1) from Antigua, and eight (8) from St. Kitts & Nevis.
The course consisted of a number of rolling hills with one long and deceptively grueling climb. There were two preens one on the long climb and the other on a steep but shorter climb. Each preen was worth US$80.00 and were both won by possibly the best overall cyclist in the competition, Lynn Murray of Antigua.
This was always going to be a team event, with St Martin fielding 11 riders in total, the rest were completeley outnumbered including the home team. With james Weekes being in the best shape it was tactically left to Reggie and Keith to chase down the many breaks expected, hoping to leave james withenough in the tank to contest a sprint finish. So said, so done, St martin constantly sent a rider off on a break to wear the opposition down, and Reggie and Keith did fine work chasing the escapees down to the detriment of their own final placings, but this is team work at its best. Between the two of them they managed to keep James in contention, but it was the Nevis roads that actually put paid to their good work, James crashed into a pothole and flatted, putting him out of the race, Reggie also had to retire leaving keith to fight on the the finish alone, and all credit to him that he was able to take 5th place overall despite all his earlier hard work..
The top riders in the race covered the 55-mile, 88km course in about 2 hours and 41 minutes at an average speed of 20.5 miles per hour. Benitez Edwards of St. Martin placed 1st in a time of 2:41:03; Lynn Murray of Antigua was 2nd at 2:41:04, Patricio Carty of St. Martin finished 3rd with a time of 2:41:05, Bienvenido Carti of St. Martin was fourth with a time of 2:41:05 as Patricio; Jean Benjamin the defending champion was 5th with a time of 2:41:06.
Finally......... HUGE congratulations to Kristinafor her performance in yesterdays independence day road race, winnig the novice race, while all competitors did well, Kristina's performance was spectacular in this only her second bike race- Well done Kristina. The Nevis Independence Road Race was sponsored by the Four Seasons Resort Estates, Oualie Beach Resorts, TDC Limited, GMP Graphics & Printing, Team Nevis Cycle & Triathlon Club and Wheel World Cycle Shop.