Feb. 5, 2008 – Taking advantage of a flat course and a flat tire, John Riggs won his first race of the young cycling season, capturing the 40-mile Frederiksted Road Race. By being by far the flattest course the riders will see all year, the race usually ends up in a bunch sprint. However, the 2008 edition saw Riggs and Robert Bumann get away from the start, and those two top riders opened up an early two-minute lead. When Bumann punctured on the fourth of five laps, Riggs was left to coast in for an easy victory in 1:29:15. Juancito Gario and Paul Trivino were far back in second and third, in 1:32:55 and 1:33:40, according to a press release from the Virgin Islands Cycling Federation.
The 24-mile Expert Class saw Miquel Cruz have all he could handle in female rider Sue Brown. Cruz nipped his distaff competitor at the line, winning by one second in 57:18. Troy Holloway had no answer for Brown, and was another second back in third.
The 16-mile Sport race finally brought the expected mass finish. Over 20 rookie riders rode almost the entire race together in a frisky, yet safe, manner. Eight cyclists were there at the finish, and Milton Francis snagged his first win of the year in 38:29. Angel Ventura and Edwin Cruz were each a second behind to round out the podium.
Val Shoppell easily handled the Women's group, riding sixteen miles in 42:21. Denise Blanchette and Carol Murphy were two and three minutes back in second and third.
The next race on the calendar is Valentine's Day Women's Time Trial on Feb. 10. The six-mile race starts at 7 a.m., at Divi Carina Bay and finishes at Kaleidoscope Restaurant at Union/Mt. Washington. The race is for women and girls of all ages and abilities. Transportation will be offered from the finish area to the starting line before the race. For more information, call 773-8456.
Frederiksted Road Race
start/finish: Creque Dam Road —-February 3
Elite – 40 miles
1……….…..2……….………3……….…..4……….………5
1. John Riggs 17:30…………35:11…………53:13…………1:11:39…………1:29:15
2. Juancito Gario 17:44…………36:04…………54:40…………1:14:17…………1:32:55
3. Paul Trivino 17:44…………36:04…………54:40…………1:14:17…………1:33:40
4. Glenn Massiah 18:25…………38:24…………57:29…………1:17:28…………1:37:14
5. Robert Bumann 17:30…………35:11…………53:13…………DNF…………———-
Expert – 24 miles
………………………1……………2……………………….3
1. Miguel Cruz….19:13…………38:34…………57:18
2. Sue Brown…. 19:13…………38:34…………57:19
3. Troy Holloway…. 19:13…………38:34…………57:20
4. Dale Scope…. 19:13…………38:34…………57:26
5. DeWayne Smith…. 19:13…………38:34…………57:36
6. James Meyers…. 19:13…………38:34…………57:55
7. Dwight Sergant…. 19:17…………40:04…………1:00:44
John Harper…. 19:13…………38:34…………DNF
Jonathan Cruz…. 21:27…………40:56…………DNF
Scott Fricks…. 19:13…………DNF…………———
Sport – 16 miles
……………………………1………………2
1. Milton Francis……19:50…………38:29
2. Angel Ventura…….19:40…………38:30
3. Edwin Cruz……….19:50…………38:31
4. Marius Modeste……19:50…………38:31
5. Apolinar Acevedo…. 19:50…………38:31
6. Todd Nurnberger…. 19:50…………38:32
7. Richard Jeanpierre…. 19:50…………38:32
8. Mark Kennedy…. 19:50…………38:32
9. Mathias Sampson…. 19:50…………38:40
10. David Nowack…. 19:50…………38:56
11. Bevern Sage…. 19:50…………38:57
12. Jose Perez…. 19:50…………39:00
13. David Morales…. 19:50…………39:03
14. Ferdi Abraham…. 19:50…………39:09
15. Fred Flint…. 19:50…………39:10
16. Nelson Rojas…. 19:50…………39:13
17. Marius Louis…. 19:50…………41:26
18. Mervin Mills…. 20:11…………41:29
19. Peter Duthie…. 19:50…………41:31
20. Yves Abraham…. 19:50…………44:33
21. Chad Robacker…. 24:06…………46:18
22. Antonio Stevens…. 22:06…………47:15
23. Paul Gillette…. 24:04…………48:21
Brad Chaffee…. 20:11…………DNF
Ezequiel Nieves…. DNF
Women – 16 miles
……………………….1……………….2
1. Val Shoppell…. 21:15………..42:21
2. Denise Blanchette…. 21:58…………44:11
3. Carol Murphy…. 22:12…………45:08
4. Michelle Dizon…. 23:52…………48:24
5. Cheryl Wade…. 24:17…………48:35
6. Cathy Prince…. 25:47…………51:29
