Madison relies on man of Steel

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19: Andy Steel of Team Madison left it to the last race of the season to make his mark winning last Sunday’s Team Focus / Crime Stoppers Road Race held at Police Headquarters in Prospect.

Tracey Wright of Team Winner’s Edge was second while Mark Hatherley took the sprint for third.

The race took in a large loop and four small loops for a total of 50 miles.

The race exploded from the gun with riders putting their strategies on hold and instead just trying to hang on, enduring attack after attack.

The decisive move of the race came with two laps to go when Steel, Wright, Alan Mooney of Team Tokio, and Bermuda’s top female cyclist, Karen Bordage of Team Winner’s Edge attacked and established a lead.

Bordage and Mooney would return to the pack but with Madison and Winner’s Edge defending, Wright and Steel maintained their lead and Fast Forward Bicycle Works, Tokio and Focus failed to mount an effective chase.

It was not until the last lap when the group could see the leaders on Marsh Folly Road that the chase became frantic but it was too little too late.

Steel, the better climber, pulled away on Headquarters Hill to take his first win.

In the three lap B race Chequan Richardson of Team Winner’s Edge took his first ever victory with Jason Piney of Team Tokio coming in second.

Richardson attacked up Frog Lane to secure an unassailable lead. Ricky Smith Sr. of Winner’s Edge was third.

Ian Pilgrim of Fast Forward Bicycle Works secured top honours in the Adult C race ahead of Dnarte Lima and Crime Stoppers’ McKeon Stevens.

Daniel Oatley of Fast Forward Bicycle Works beat out Rico Smith of Winner’s Edge and Nate Hartwig to win the Junior A race. Gabriella Arnold was fourth and the top girl.

Fast Forward Bicycle Works continued the pattern in the Junior B race with Alex Pilgrim taking top honours.

Kaz Godfrey and Zion Dowling both of Team Focus rounded out the top three. Crime Stoppers’ Jayden Ming and Malik Joell followed by Nicholas Pilgrim of Fast Forward Bicycle Works rounded out the top three in the Junior race.

After what most would say has been the most competitive cycling calendar ever, Brian Drea of Madison topped the 10-race points series ahead of Winner’s Edge Riders’ Mark Hatherley and Darren Glasford.

Team Winner’s Edge have secured an unassailable lead in the team points competition ahead of Team Fast Forward Bicycle Works and Team Madison with only one time trial remaining in two weeks time.

Visit www.bermudabicycle.org to learn more about cycling in Bermuda and the upcoming mountain bike season.

Duncan Simons is the public relations officer for the Bermuda Bicycle Association.