Cycling-Mathieu and Labiche triumph |07 July 2004

Mathieu won last Saturday’s (July 3) gruelling 88-km race on a photo-finish in a final sprint involving the top three finishers. His time at the finish line was 2 hours 35 minutes 24 seconds (2h35:24), the same time given to runner-up Graham Bristol of Vélo Club de Mahe (VCM). PLS Riders' Brian Sinon clocked 2h35:29 to take third place.

VCM's Marcus Belle won the race in the junior category in 2h38:33, three seconds faster than PLS Riders' Bertrand Lesperance, winner of last Saturday's 75-km circuit race, who clocked 2h38:36. Andy Anthony of PLS Riders took third position in a time of 2h48:04.

In the Cadet class, Leroy Labiche continued his domination. In the 38-km road race last Saturday, he won in 1h02:11.

The same time was given to second and third place finishers France Anacoura and Terence Bijoux.

PLS Riders were the best team last Saturday with an cumulative time of 7h47:40, VCM were second with 7h50:37 and St Francis third with 8h58:09.

The following day, Mathieu again reigned supreme as he rode to the highest step on the podium in his favourite event – the 17.1-km individual time trial – in a time of 23 minutes 03.61 seconds.

Andy Rose of Baie Lazare-based club St Francis settled for second position in 24 minutes 48.81 seconds, followed in third place by teammate Eric Van Hollebeck in 25 minutes 11.87 seconds.

Like Mathieu, Labiche brought his number of wins to two in the 17.1-km individual time trial. He was a cut above the rest of the field, winning the Cadet division in a time of 26 minutes 11.30 seconds.

Andry Esparon and France Anacoura were second and third in 27 minutes 48.10 seconds and 28 minutes 11.82 seconds respectively.

Lesperance improved on his final placing on Sunday July 4, winning the Junior category in front of Alex Savy.

Lesperance took 25 minutes 47.31 seconds to finish the race, while Savy was second in 26 minutes 07.08 seconds and Marcus Belle third in 27 minutes 00.78 seconds.

Again on Sunday PLS Riders took top honours in the team classification with a cumulative time of 1h14:23, while St Francis were second with 1h16:43 and VCM third with 1h18:09.

C. J.