Mere millimetres separated Olympic riders Gregory Bauge (France) and Njisane Phillip (TT) in the Men’s Keirin final on Friday night, as the former barely outlasted the latter in a hotly contested encounter when day-one of the second annual “Njisane Three-Day Cycling Festival” rode off at a packed Arima Velodrome.
Dubbed one of the fastest events on the night, the bumper crowd was treated to a nail-biting finish which saw the London Olympic Men’s Sprint silver medallist Bauge, snatch gold ahead of TT’s Olympic fourth place finisher, Phillip. Settling for a credible third was Czech Republic cyclist, Tomas Babek.
As the top three finishers began to pump their legs for a speedy sprint finish in the final lap of the Keirin, Bauge and Phillip pulled away from Babek and lit the concrete track afire with their Olympic talent. However, it would be Bauge of Team White who emerged the victor, pipping Phillip (Team Red) at the line for the coveted Keirin crown.
In the women’s equivalent, French rider Laurie Berton also stamped her authority with a golden finish ahead of Scottish athlete Jennifer Davis and Mexic3an Daniela Gaxiola respectively.
Phillip however, pulled one back for the Red team as he went on to take top honours in the Men’s International 9-Lap event. Also bagging points for Phillip’s team was Keron Bramble, who finished in runner-up position ahead of Argentina’s Sebastien Donadio (Team White).
Additionally, in the Elite 1,2,3 & Juniors Open ten Laps, Bajan rider Jamol Eastmond of Heatwave rode to gold ahead of eventual silver medallist Dario Pagliaricci (The Braves) and bronze receiver Edwin Sutherland (Barbados).
Babek also showed good form in the International Men 25 Laps as he powered to victory for his Team Black outfit. He finished ahead of Team Green’s Adam Alexander (TT) and Team White’s Joshua Alexander (TT) respectively.
France’s dominant female, Berton, continued her strong run when she was victorious once more in the International & Senior Women event. Berton got past runner-up Jenifer Davis (Scotland) and third placed Malgorzata Wojtyra (Poland).
TT athlete, Varun Maharajh was also among the winners for Team Red as he outrode Bajan and 2012 Tobago Classic winner Darren Matthews (Green) and Jamaican Marloe Rodman (Black) respectively.
Tonight, the three-day event climaxes at Skinner Park, San Fernando, from 5pm. At the end of tonight’s programme, team points will be tallied after the three days of racing and a champion team will be crowned.
International N3DCF II Teams
Team Red - Njisane Phillip TT (Captain); Gevan Samuel TT; Gene Samuel TT; Akil Campbell TT; Keron Bramble TT; Varun Maharajh TT; Azikiwe Kellar TT.
Team Green - Adam Alexander TT (Captain); Hugo Barette Canada; Darren Matthews Barbados; Patrick Constable Australia; Thireef Smart TT.
Team White - Gregory Bauge France (Captain); Joshua Alexander TT; Jai Angusthasawit Australia; Sebastian Donadio Argentina; Jymes Bridges Antigua & Barbuda.
Team Black - Tomas Babek Czech Republic (Captain); Barry Luces TT; Guy East USA; Diego Pena Colombia; Jessie Kelly Barbados.
Team Blue - Damien Zielinski Poland (Captain); Marloe Rodman Jamaica; Marc Codrington TT; Jovian Gomez TT; Manuel Tunjano Colombia; Rudy Ashton TT.
Other Results:
International & Senior Women 6 Laps: 1. Laurie Berton (France); 2. Daniela Gaxiola (Mexico); 3. Jennifer Davis (Scotland).
International Men 6 Laps: 1. Njisane Phillip (TT); 2. Thomas Babek (Czech Republic); 3. Adam Alexander (TT).
Elite 1 & 2 4 Lap Pointer: 1. Jamol Eastmond (Heatwave); 2. Dario Pagliarici (The Braves); 3. Oneil Samuels (The Braves).
Elite 3: 1. Oludare Marcelle (Madonna); 2. Robin Balgobin (Hummingbird); 3. Murvin Arumjo (Team Foundation).
Elite 4 2 Laps: 1. A Puckerin (Barbados); 2. Brent Mitchell (Petrotrin); 3. Desmond Nedd (Bike Smith).
Juniors 2 Laps: 1. Sei Daniel (AWCC); 2. Liam Lovell (Barbados); 3. Josh Kelly (Sonics & Barbados).
Tinymites 5 Laps: 1. Jabari Whiteman (Southclaine); 2. Dean Woodsley (Petrotrin); 3. Justin Baptiste (Slipstream).
Juveniles Elimination: 1. Tyler Cole (Sonics); 2. Jacobs Kelly (Sonics & Barbados); 3. Brandon Gittens (Sonics).
Masters 40-49 3 Laps: 1. Roger Smart (Madonna); 2. Rocky Hosein (Hummingbird); 3. Christopher Gill (Heatwave).
Master 50-59 4 Laps: 1. Joel Browne (AWCC); 2. Wayne Samuel (Southclaine); 3. Cyril Fook (Parkside).
Masters 60-69 2 Laps: 1. Haridiva La Fond (Unattached); 2. Clyde Pollonais (Southclaine); 3. Godfrey Clyne (Southclaine).
Masters 70+ 2 Laps: 1. Earl Henry (Unattached); 2. Barry Edghill (Madonna); 3. Joey Nunes (Hummingbird).
Tinymite Women 3 Laps: 1. Chenelle Walcott (Bike Smith); 2. Ashley Whiteman (Sonics); 3. Adrianna Seyjagat (AWCC).
Juvenile Women: 1. Jhordan St George (Slipstream); 2. Dominique Lovell (AWCC).
Junior Women 2 Laps: 1. Joy Abigail John (AWCC); 2. Keiana Lester (Bike Smith); 3. Tenille Campbell (Sonics).