The territory’s national cycling champ, Jamie Keys, broke the 8-year-old St. Croix East End Loop Time Trial record by two seconds on Sunday morning.
The race was held on the hilly, 13.1 mile course around the east end of St. Croix. Rough roads and strong easterly winds made the going difficult for the 20 riders.
"The time trial is often called the ‘race of truth’ because each rider is racing against the clock," said VICF President Michael McQueston. "Tactics and drafting do not play a part, the riders basically go all out for the enitre distance, trying to clock the fastest time."
Keys set a new course record, covering the distance in 34 minutes and 13 seconds and averaging over 22.5 mph. The record had been held jointly by Jeff Miller and Alex Bettancourt.
Kent Bradbury, St. Croix's best triathlete, finished second with a time of 35:44 and Half Ironman organizer Tom Guthrie took third with a 37:25.
Women's champ Sue Brown also raced well, improving her time from last year and breaking the coveted 40-minute mark with a time of 39:41.
In other cycling action, the VICF Mountain Bike Team is off to Tortola this weekend, where Keys and Brown will attempt to defend there lead in the Caribbean Cup Mountain Bike Series. The next local event will be St. Croix's hosting of the Caribbean Cup on May 26 and 27.
Anyone interested in learning more about cycling in the VI contact McQueston at 772-2343
East End Loop Time Trial results
Men's Jamie Keys 34.13; 2. Kent Bradbury 35.44; 3. Tom Guthrie 37.25; 4. John Riggs 38.15; 5. John Harper 38.17; 6. Kuky Barrios 39.15; 7. Bob Halk 40.41; 8. Jamie Bate 40.56; 9. Kevin Burton 41.35; 10. Juancito Gario 43.09; 11. Luke Defour 44.16; 12. Victor Cruz 45.30; 13. Will Franks 48.01; 14. Danney Fontanelle 49.39; 15. Jose Diaz 50.33; 16. Carlos Hernandez 55.18
Women
1. Sue Brown 39.41; 2. Theresa Harper 43.26; 3. Louise DePuy 44.40
