RIYADH: The second 40km time trial of the Riyadh Wheelers-Novartis Consumer Health season was held in good conditions with many hoping to improve their times. Unfortunately, although the conditions appeared fast, the times were not, with most riders complaining their times were several minutes down on their best.
There were some exceptions of course, the pick being George Morete, John Hymns and Rebecca Robertson who all improved. The winner and one of the few top riders not riding a TT machine, was French star Patrice Delile who also recorded the only sub-hour ride of the day. In second and very close again to the magical hour barrier was Super-Master Bruno Syfrig who will now have to wait until the last event of the season to try and join the elite club, perhaps the promise of a new bike will help his campaign.
Consistent Kelvin Bowers overcame breathing difficulties to just out-pace Thierry Mathy, who just returned from a long vacation in Europe where the bad weather made it impossible for training.
Rob Patrick was reasonably satisfied with his 5th place, just ahead of a very fit Morete and class triathlon act, Alex Carinan. Hard working committee member Tom Walton came in next just ahead of Nasser Al Mutrad who continues to regain his best form. Watson sadly announced that this would be his last event before moving on to new adventures away from the Kingdom.
Biggest upset of the day was the defeat in the Cat B stakes of Freda Gocian by Rebecca Robertson. Robertson has been pushing Gocian close all season, but this was the first time their positions were reversed.
Four junior riders signed on, and this mini-battle was won by Daan Van Haasteren, who overcame difficulties with his bike to take the scalps of Huw, Alun Thomas and sister Jolien.
Results: 1st Patrice Delile 0:59:40; 2nd Bruno Syfrig 1:00:48; 3rd Kelvin Bowers 1:01:10; 4th Thierry Mathy 1:01:20; 5th Rob Patrick 1:02:34; 6th George Morete 1:03:04; 7th Alex Carinan 1:03:48; 8th Tom Walton 1:04:02; 9th Nasser Al Mutrad 1:04:15; 10th John Hymns 1:06:17; 11th Jaime Sunga 1:06:34; 12th Paul Soycon 1:07:00; 13th Roy Delos Santos 1:07:02; 14th Reiner Gocian 1:07:32; 15th Jun Cordial 1:09:05; 16th Paul McParland 1:10:01; 17th Phil Green 1:10:08; 18th Edwin Seneres 1:11:01; 19th Catalino Laoagan 1:13:06; 20th Arnel Maniago 1:14:02; 21st David Nicholls 1:14:39; 22nd Rebecca Robertson 1:15:16; 23rd Freda Gocian 1:16:04; 24th Armando De Leon 1:17:06; 25th Lee Phillips 1:17:16; 26th Peter Foster 1:17:19; 27th Ewan Cameron 1:18:42; 28th Ron Downs 1:23:00; 29th Lito Ordonez 1:25:16; 30th Daan Van Haasteren 1:26:29; 31st David Aubrey 1:27:26; 32nd Huw Thomas 1:27:29; 33rd Jana Jaruskova 1:31:19; 34th Eoghan Donnellan 1:34:20; 35th Jolien Van Haasteren 1:36:29; 36th Dave Thomas 1:39:57; 37th Alun Thomas 1:40:17. DNF Koos Van Haasteren, Peter Waddell, Abdallah Al Sarhni
Open: Alex Carinan; Veteran: Patrice Delile; Master: Bruno Syfrig; Senior: Catalino Laoagan.
Category B: Rebecca Robertson.
