Cycling - Veteran Rosalie sprints to victory in road race |21 January 2015

Veteran Classic Design rider Ricky Rosalie sprinted to the finish to get a rare road race win on Sunday as he triumphed in the 94.8km marathon.

Known to being a good rider in circuit races, Rosalie collected a prestigious win on Sunday as he reached the finish line of the 94.8km road race in 2 hours 52 minutes 17 seconds (2h52:17).

The 38-year-old told Sports Nation that he feels good and has lately been training seriously alongside the younger riders whom he says love the sport.
“I feel good whenever I’m riding my bike. I feel strong going up the hills and I was able to beat Chris (Germain) in the final sprint to get the win,” said Rosalie.

He added that although cycling is an individual sport, a lot of teamwork is needed as they ride for club teams.

“I can win many more races, but if my teammates are ahead in the race, I don’t have to challenge him although the winning feeling is good. I like to encourage my younger teammates and get them to understand the rigors of cycling. Being selfish is not healthy for the club as I do not only ride to win,” Rosalie told Sports Nation.

Second in Sunday’s race was Life Cycle’s Chris Germain with 2h52:18 followed in third position by Classic Design’s Dominic Arrisol with 2h55:20.

Fourth to 12th positions were occupied by Jean-Eve Souyave (Life Cycle, 2h55:20), Bertrand Lesperance (Eco Riders, 3h08:01), Ahmad Arissol (Life Cycle, 3h08:01), Xerxes Larue (Classic Design, 3h08:01), Jude Hoareau (Individual, 3h08:01), Stephan Belle (Individual, 3h08:01), Bertrand Fred (Classic Design, 3h08:01), Edrick Roucou (Classic Design, 3h08:03), and Raoul Gomme (Eco Riders, 3h25:02).

Classic Design won the best team title with a combined time of 8h55:38, and Life Cycle finished second with 8h55:39.

In the individual classification after the sixth race, Rosalie has moved into second position with 209 points – 52 less than leader and Eco Riders’ Fadi Confiance who is actually following a development camp at the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) Continental Centre based in Potchefstroom, South Africa.

Life Cycle’s Peter Alphonse is also in Potchefstroom following the camp ahead of the 2015 African Youth Cycling Championship which starts on February 8 in Pietermaritzburg.

Third overall is Classic Design’s Edrick Roucou with 199 points and the young rider was presented with his air tickets on Sunday and will fly to Potchefstroom tomorrow to team up with Confiance and Alphonse in the camp which is meant to help the youngsters familiarise themselves with the standards of the international tour.

G. G.