Cycling-Rose keeps VCM at the top |26 July 2005

Nelson Rose had more fire in his legs to sprint to the finish line ahead of St Francis’ Alex Savy.  Rose’s time was 3 hours 04 minutes 21 seconds (3h04:21), while Savy clocked 3h04:22. They both registered an average speed of 39.056 kilometres per hour.

Another Vélo Club de Mahé rider, Bertrand Lesperance, winner of the 78.4-km road race sponsored by Sekaar Shopping Centre, completed the podium with third place in 3h05:56.

The remaining 10 positions were filled by the following cyclists: PLS Riders’ Francis Louis (fourth in 3h10:15), Vélo Club de Mahé’s Leeroy Labiche (fifth in 3h10:15), Vélo Club de Mahé’s Roy Mougal (sixth in 3h10:15), St Francis’ Jean-Pierre Low-Hong (seventh in 3h10:19), St Francis’ Ricky Rosalie (eighth in 3h10:36), Vélo Club de Mahé’s Darrel Laurencine (ninth in 3h25:08) and St Francis’ Andriy Esparon (10th in 3h25:10).

Vélo Club de Mahé finished as the best team with their first three cyclists to cross the finish line combining for  9h19:32. St Francis were the runners-up with 9h25:17.

PLS Riders, with only one rider completing the distance and another two abandoning for mechanical reasons, were not classified.

In the overall classification, PLS Riders’ Roniel Fanny still leads. Fanny, who did not start Saturday’s circuit race as he was still recovering from bruises as a result of a heavy fall during a recent race, boasts 451 points.

He is followed in second place by St Francis’ Alex Savy with 417 points and in third position by Vélo Club de Mahé’s Nelson Rose with 410 points.

In the 60-km race reserved for cadet riders, France Anacoura won for the 13th time this year and it was a big-margin victory.

With an average speed of 39.567 kilometres per hour, the 16-year-old hit the tape in 1h30:59, almost 25 minutes ahead of runner-up Nelson Labrosse.

Third place went to Ricky Servina in 1h55:43.

Saturday’s race started in front of the Mohan Shopping Centre and the cyclists pedalled to the Providence Highway junction before turning left.

Upon reaching the Palais des Sports roundabout, they took the Ste Thérèse road to then turned left onto the Plaisance road. The senior and junior riders covered the distance eight times, while cadet cyclists covered four laps.

G. G.