DeFour wins East End Time Trial
Published: February 2, 2012
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ST. CROIX - Mark DeFour has emerged as the top rider so far in the U.S. Virgin Islands Cycling Federation season.
DeFour won the 13-mile East End Time Trial in a time of 36 minutes and 36 seconds on Sunday. It was the second event of the new season on the St. Croix circuit.
Federation secretary Sara Gambee said 29 racers competed in five different divisions as the race was sponsored by Joint Forces.
"The conditions were cool and windy," she said. "One racer didn't take off his windbreaker until the start of the race."
Seven other Elite Division riders chased DeFour as they flew clockwise around the East End Loop. Apolinar Acevedo Jr. was second in 37:01, while Narian Gentius debuted his new bike and finished third in 37:39.
In the women's class, Melissa Banuelos cruised to a first place victory in 48:42, while her mother, Judy Gario, was runner-up, and Janet Jeanpierre took third.
David Parris (40:11) finished first in the Expert Class, followed by Richard Jeanpierre (42:02) and Ernst Schuster (43:19).
Rodger Hatfield showed up and took the other cyclists to task in the Master's Division. He finished first with a time of 43:35, followed by Dick Isherwood in second and Mark Kennedy at third.
In the Sport Class, David Morales (42:32) sported a new haircut and squeaked out a victory over newcomer Jay Gleason (44:34) while James Meyers took third.
The next race will be the Valentine's Day Ladies Time Trial on Feb. 12. The all-women 6-mile race starts at Divi Resort and ends at the old Kaleidoscope restaurant.
The St. Croix cycling circuit will feature 27 events through October, including several group rides, time trials and road races. The USVI Championship Road Race, set for Sept. 23, will include three different distances.
For more information about future races or joining the USVI Cycling Federation, email Gambee at vicfsecretary@gmail.com.
- Contact sports writer Aaron Gray at 714-9102 or email agray@dailynews.vi.
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