Cycling-Moto Riders’ cyclists dominate |01 August 2007
Although Sports Nation was not made aware of the taking place of the two races, it has found it important to look for the results for publication.
But before going straight into compiling the results, it is good to note that the question on the lips of almost everyone involved with cycling here is why a sudden change in the Seychelles Cycling Association’s decision.
In June, head coach Lucas Georges told Sports Nation that no races would be organized here because cyclists do not work as a team when they compete for their clubs and this is not good for the national team who are preparing for the IOIG.
On two consecutive weekends, cyclists on the national team flew to Mauritius accompanied by coach Georges to participate in different races. At this time, coach Georges said that such competitions would help them to unite as a team and work for each other in races.
Other than those two races, Seychellois cyclists have had the chance to participate in the World ‘B’ Championships in South Africa and the Ninth All-Africa Games in Algiers, Algeria.
Even members of the Seychelles Cycling Association (SCA) do not understand the reason for the sudden change. Many are saying that they do not have a say anymore within the association and want to quit.
If the atmosphere within the association isn’t OK at this point in time, it is time that SCA chairman Sam Rignace uses his authority to put his house in order. Otherwise things could go out of hands…
It is hoped then that the current situation does not affect the cyclists when they compete in Madagascar.
As for the results of last weekend’s races, it was the Moto Riders’ cyclists who dominated on two different days.
In Saturday’s 26-km individual time-trial, Leeroy Labiche won in the absence of Hedson Mathieu who is training at the World Training Centre in Aigle, Switzerland.
Labiche’s winning time was 38 minutes 05 seconds (38:05), 53 seconds faster than clubmate Bertrand Lesperance who was back on his bike after missing the All-Africa Games through injury. In third place was St Francis’ Jim Melanie with a time of 39:27.
Lesperance was a winner on Sunday, claiming victory on a final sprint in the 136-km circuit race in a time of 3 hours 38 minutes 45 seconds (3h38:45).
Runner-up Nelson Rose of Vélo Club de Mahé and third-place finisher Labiche of Moto Riders clocked the same time.
In fact, three more riders – Jim Melanie (St Francis), Raoul Gomme (Moto Riders) and Brian Sinon (Mohan Shopping Centre) – were credited with a time of 3h38:45 just like race winner Lesperance.
G. G.