BY DEAN GREENAWAY

Phillippe Leroy was the last rider to start but the fastest to finish in stage one of the 10th  Anniversary Tour de Tortola Saturday. 

Riding behind Andrew Young with the 24 riders taking off in two-minute intervals on the course that went from Clarence Thomas Ltd., to Cox Heath and return, Leroy made up 20 seconds to win in 40 minutes 05 seconds to Young’s 41:25. Darel Christopher placed third in 42:32. St. John’s Louise DePuy, 11th overall was the first woman in 51:16. Sarah Edes grabbed second in 57:48 while Patlian Johnson was third in 1:01.37.

“Being last was nice, at least I was sure no one would catch me and pass me,” Leroy joked on his order in the time trail. “I just decided to press myself going down. I went very hard then went all out on the way back. It worked very well for me,” he explained.

“I knew when I reached the turnaround that I’d made up about 20 seconds on Andrew. I looked at my watch and I was quite pleased. I was hoping that I would make more time up on the way back, but, in the end I was surprised. I though he would be stronger than I was on the flat.”
Young said he wanted to win. “I consider myself quite competitive. I don’t like to lose,” he stated. “But, I got beaten fair and square. I’ll just have to come back and put in a good race in the tour.”

Cycling Federation president David Thomas was pleased with the turnout. “It was good to see 24 people coming out and doing it,” he said. “It was very hard, very windy coming back from Cox Heath. But overall, I think it was really, really good. It’s a great start to the 10 anniversary tour. The Police did a good job. I must commend them.”

Final Results. Men: 1. Phillippe Leroy, 40 Minutes, 05 seconds. 2. Andrew Young, 41:25. 3. Darel Christopher, 42:32. 4. Neil Thomas, 44:34. 5. Conrad ‘Manny’ Emmanuel, 44:51. 6. Tim Smith, 45:08. 7. Paul Hart, 48:02. 8. Steve Marsh, 48:23. 9. Jim Cullimore, 48:31. 10. Clifton ‘Tito’ Forbes, 49:36. 11. Steve Burger, 49:36. 12. David Thomas, 50:31. 13. Tom Merrigan, 54:51. 14. Glenroy Forbes, 55:36. 15. Joe Giacinto, 59:49. 16. Rick Connell, 1:11.35. 17. Mark McKenzie, 1:14.17.

Women: 1. Louise DePuy, 51:16. 2. Sarah Edes, 57:48. 3. Patlian Johnson, 1:01.37. 4. Tamika George, 1:04.43. 5. Olympia Fahie, 1:05.25. 6. Shannel Walker, 1:13.13. 7. Ursula Archer, 1:16.30.