Cycling-Farewell sprint finish win for Mathieu |03 May 2005

Runner-up Ricky Rosalie of St Francis and third place finisher Leeroy Labiche of Vélo Club de Mahé clocked the same time, all three and the rest of the peloton averaging a speed of 36.122 km per hour (36.122km/h).

Mathieu’s victory was his second personal and his team’s third after Roniel Fanny won the 71-km circuit race the weekend before.

Since Mathieu crossed the finish line first, his team PLS Riders finished as the best team, followed in second and third positions by St Francis and Vélo Club de Mahé. All three teams were credited with the same cumulative time of 4h53:00, for an average of 36.122km/h.

It is going to be interesting to see how PLS Riders, who have won all three team titles so far in as many races, cope in the absence of Mathieu who took the rear wheel of teammate Andy Anthony after a burst tyre on the 11th lap.

The race started atMont Fleuri, opposite the Youth Centre building, and the cyclists pedaled to the Plaisance round-about. They turned left onto the Ste Thérèse Road, left again onto the Bois de Rose Avenue and left again on reaching the Unity monument to head back to Mont Fleuri.

The junior and senior riders covered 14 laps, while the cadets nine for a distance of 37.8 kilometres.

France Anacoura sprinted to the finish line ahead of Uriy Farabeau for his third consecutive victory. They both clocked 1h05:28 for an average speed of 34.643km/h.
Third place went to Leslie Siméon in 1h08:46.

G. G.