It seemed to be a two-horse race between Rafael Meran and Jovian Gomez at the final bell, but Barbadian cyclist Phillip Clarke made a late surge to capture the 30-lap main event of the Michael Phillips Republic Day Cycling Classic at Nelson Mandela Park (formerly King George V Park), yesterday evening.
With two laps to go, Meran (Team Foundation) of the Dominican Republic and national cyclist Gomez (Team Drive Phase Sport) had opened up an 100-metre lead on the overcast afternoon. Halfway through the final lap there was still no separation between Meran and Gomez. However, Clarke, representing local cycling club Heatwave, got a late boost of energy to capture the main event.
Meran finished second, while Gomez faded at the end to finish eighth. Finishing behind Clarke and Meran was Team Foundation duo Taveras Sanchez and Adam Alexander.
It was a seesaw battle throughout the race as T&T rider Varun Maharajh, Joshua Alexander (T&T), Peter Thompson (Jamaica) and Jyme Bridges (Antigua) all held the lead at different stages of the race. Also claiming titles on the day were Tamiko Butler (ladies senior), Gavin Nero (duathlon men) and Christiane Farah (duathlon women). Many of the riders on show yesterday will now focus on the Tobago International Cycling Classic which pedals off on Tuesday in Tobago.
selected results
Main Event 30 laps
1 Phillip Clarke–Heatwave
2 Rafael Meran–Team Foundation
3 Taveras Sanchez–Team Foundation
4 Adam Alexander–Team Foundation
5 Joshua Alexander–Team DPS
6 Gevan Samuel–The Braves
7 Marc Codrington–Slipstream
8 Jovian Gomez–Team DPS
Duathlon Men
1 Gavin Nero
2 Avinash Amamalay
3 Joshua Ho
Duathlon Women
1 Christiane Farah
2 Kiyomi Rankine
3 Melissa Pascal
Ladies Senior
1 Tamiko Butler
2 Dahlia Palmer
3 Christiane Farah
Clinton Grant Sprint
1 Adam Alexander
2 Luis Diaz
3 Varun Maharajh
4 Jamol Eastmond