Chris Ghiorse wins BVI Cycling Federation 18 mile time trial

By Dean Greenaway

Chris Ghiorse romped to victory by using Sunday’s BVI Cycling Federation 18 mile time trial as a tune up for the March 16, John T. Memorial in Anguilla. Ghiorse rode his new Trek to turn back Phillippe Leroy, after sizing up two visiting cyclists from St. Croix.

“I just got a new bike and the wheels made the difference,” Ghiorse noted. “They gave me at least a two minute advantage today over everybody else with the same effort.” Ghiorse finished the windy course from Nanny Cay to West End, back to Palestina Estate, down to Cox Heath before finishing at Nanny Cay in 42 minutes and 02 seconds, three minutes ahead of Leroy.

“I was actually happy it was windy,” Ghiorse said. “When you’re racing by yourself against the clock into the wind, there’s a lot of self doubt that can come into your mind when you’re trying to push through it. Going towards West End was a blast. I was going about 34 miles per hour, but, as I came up into the wind, I was going slower and slower and had to use smaller gears. I had to say ‘boy, I hope everyone else is going this slow.’”

Cycling Federation president David Thomas said the race sounded easy but, it was tough. “Time trials work really well because you are not racing against anybody, you’re racing against time,” he said. “You have to go out there and put your best effort in to get a good time. A lot of guys worked really hard and there were close finishes. You couldn’t ask for more.”

In his BVI debut, St. Croix’s Juancito Gavio who was third behind Leroy and one place ahead of Jaron Maduro, said it was a very good race. “I expected good competition and I got it. The wind was hard and you had to really know want you were doing to make it on this one,” he said. “I came here with disc wheels and I could feel the crosswind. You had to be in a really good position and know how to spin as opposed to pushing hard gears and knowing when to do it. It made a big difference today.”

Final results: 1. Chris Ghiorse, 42 minutes 02 seconds. 2. Phillippe Leroy, 44:53. 3. Juancito Gavio, St. Croix, 46:07. 4. Jaron Maduro, 46:19. 5. Danney Fontelle, St. Croix, 49:54. 6. Darrel Christopher, 50:13. 7. Conrad ‘Manny’ Emmanuel, 50:15. 8. Neil Thomas, 51:09. 9. Jim Cullimore, 53:36. 10. Steve Marsh, 53:47. 11. Alston ‘Alo’ Hanley, 54:50. 12. Clifton ‘Tito’ Forbes, 55:52. 13. Stephen Emmanuel, 58:47. 14. Laurens Blok, 1:00.00. 15. David Thomas, 1:01.33. 16. Tom Merrigan, 1:06.08.

Fun/Novice: 1. Aggrey Henry, 44 minutes and 35 seconds. 2. Sarah Edes, 46.02. 3. Nahassee Chalwell, 49:41. 4. Akeem Gumbs, 49:52. 5. Keon Thomas, 50:08. 6. Tamika George, 54:32. 7. Berchfield Letsome, 56:24.