Albury outsprints rivals to win Carrefour Le Mall 103.5 km road race

Considering the lateness of the season, a good turnout signed for the Carrefour Le Mall 103.5km road race, with 55 lining up in perfect weather conditions.
Due to the road circuit having no hills to speak of, a mass sprint was anticipated, with the favorites predicting they would find it difficult to breakaway from a determined lead pack containing strong triathletes and time triallists.
It was no surprise therefore, that this is how the race unfolded and after an initial shakeout, a group of 21 formed who were able to contain the numerous attacks put in by Chad Albury, Vincent Engel and Javier Villalobos among others.
This pattern continued until the 70km mark when finally an unofficial truce was called between the favorites and the resulting steadier pace was enough to encourage
Andy McLaughlan, Geron Guanlao, Martin Ball and Rodel Flores to stir it up, much to the displeasure of those hanging on who continued to yo-yo on and off the back as their legs started to feel the distance.
And so it was the large group swung into the final straight and started a furious sprint which needed camera technology to unravel the finishing order.
The podium finishers were clear, however, Albury repeating his victory from the last race, with Norberto Daa and Vincent Engel joining him on the podium.
Daa revealed to be riding against doctors orders which explained why he’s had a quiet race and refrained from his usual attacking style of racing. Good performances were recorded by Reiner Gocian, Roy Delos Santos, Kane Pickles, after a puncture, and Cat B winner Jana Jaruskova who was carrying over fitness from a recent international triathlon event in Abu Dhabi.
With only one event left in the calendar, riders attention now turn to improve their points tally and their personal bests in the blue riband of time trialling, the 25mile TT.
Thanks go to major sponsors Carrefour Le Mall for such great support and for sponsoring this event in particular.
Results:
1 C.Albury, 2 N.Daa, 3 V.Engel, 4 G.Guanlao, 5 J.Villalobos, 6 S.Jenkins, 7 J.Kuba, 8 A.Carinan, 9 G.Laurie, 10 R.Patrick, 11 K.Ahlin, 12 E.Seneres, 13 S.Gillespie, 14 R.Delos Santos, 15 G.Morete, 16 M.Ball, 17 R.Gocian, 18 A.Maniago, 19 N.Al Mutrad, 20 A.MacLaughlan, 21 J.Cordial, 22 A.Cuesta, 23 P.McParland, 24 B.Florence, 25 G.Muetze, 26 T.Williams, 27 K.Bowers, 28 C.Brown, 29 K.Walsh, 30 M.Gauval, 31 F.Alhamoud, 32 K.Pickles, 33 D.Pottinger, 34 J.Cortez, 35 L.Phillips, 36 M.Webb, 37 J.Javier, 38 J.Jaruskova, 39 M.Lincoln, 40 J.Garbutt, 41 M.Suckling, 42 C.Morelos, 43 E.Lando, 44 M.Araujo, 45 F.Requillo, 46 G.Zondach, 47 R.Bitong, 48 R.Chan, 49 D.Ella, DNF A.Garcia, R.Flores, B.Syfrig, F.Gocian, R.Pedrosa, D.Dela, D.Wright
Categories: Open Norberto Daa, Veteran Chad Albury, Master Gordon Lawrie, Senior Jiri Kuba, Cat B Jana Jaruskova