Caribbean Sports Network

UNBEATEN, that is how Jamol Eastmond went into yesterday’s Barbados Cycling Union two-hour criterium and that is how he left.

It is a dream start to his 2012 season which he is contesting for the first time in the senior category, and when the bell rung for the final lap of the 12.5 km circuit, there was yet another familiar sight. The lead pair once again was Eastmond from Rockets and Russell Elcock (Accessories mist online computer/Nature Discount Fusion) who had initially made their break from the pack with two other riders, Stuart Maloney and triathlete Jason Wilson. However, the two then separated themselves once again during the second last lap of the race.

The circuit ran from the Six Roads round-a-bout to the Searles round-a-bout and it threw many challenges at the riders. The wind was one of those factors as well as the uphill climbs featured in the course.

Lapping at just under 20 minutes, the field was quickly split apart with an initial attack from Mario Forde and Ross Callender which set the tone for the rest of the race.

However, Forde saw his day come to an abrupt end just before the hour marker. As he got up to sprint and keep pace with the main group, parts started to fly off of his bicycle and what looked like a promising day, ended.

There was no stopping the two newcomers to the seniors, Elcock and Eastmond, who delivered the telling punches just when they needed to. Eastmond did admit that it was an extremely difficult course and it was the first time he was riding it in a very long time.

The steep climb at the St. Patricks round-a-bout and the heavy winds at Six Roads and Fair View, all played their part in the challenge.

Despite this, Eastmond said that his winning performance did not come as any surprise to him.

“I put in the work in the off season and I listened to my coach,” said the young rider.

He also knew he was going to beat Elcock as they came onto the end. “The way how he (Elcock) was working in the race and his body language, said he was tired,” said Eastmond about his closest rival.

It was in the S-bend after the St. Patricks round-a-bout going uphill, that Eastmond struck his final and definitive blow which left Elcock unable to counter, and the race was over after that.

Third overall in the race was Stuart Maloney (Independent) who turned in an impressive performance to win the masters category easily. Maloney had been in the breakaway bunch and was even doing his share of the work up front with the pacing.

Keeping pace with the senior riders, he was only dropped by Elcock and Eastmond late in the race.

Third in the senior category was Jason Wilson (G4S Team Swift) who was using this race as part of his preparation for the International Elite Triathlon this weekend.

Second in the masters category was Gregory Catwell (G4S Team Swift) and third was Reginald Jones (A Class Batteries Golden Wheelers).

The female category was won by Canadian Triathlete Sarah-Ann Brault riding for G4S Team Swift, as she upset Esther Miller-Rosemond (AMOND) who had to settle for second place. Third was Marissa Bradshaw.

Jesse Kelly (G4S Team Swift) was once again at the top of the junior division and he was the lone finisher in this class, while Joshua Kelly (G4S Team Swift) won the Juveniles.

Second in the Juveniles was Gregory Vanderpool (Accessories mist online computer/Nature Discount Fusion) and third was Edwin Sunderland (A Class Batteries Golden Wheelers).

Ajani Miller (Accessories mist online computer/Nature Discount Fusion) won the tinymite, while Jacob Kelly (G4S Team Swift) was second.

In the over 50 masters, Ronald Harding (AMOND) was the winner, while John Proverbs (Velo Caribe) was second.