RIYADH: With the numbers down due to seasonal holidays, the members who turned up for the Riyadh Wheelers 70km road race might have thought they were in for an easy ride.

This hope was soon to be dashed however with the signing-on of a strong group of Saudi riders, including national squad rider Sultan. Riding to a plan and as soon as the neutral section was over, a breakaway formed, which included Sultan, Bilal, Mamdouh and Norberto Daa with Geron Guanlao just adrift by a few meters.

Further back a larger group of nine had formed which became smaller and smaller as the distance and pace began to take its toll, thanks to the strong turns put in by Stuart Elliott and the non-stop attacking by Nasser Al Mutrad.

In the closing kilometers Mamdouh was dropped by the leaders, his job done, and with Sultan keeping the speed high enough to keep Guanlao at bay, the scene was set for an exciting 3-up sprint.

With so much experience behind him it was a formality for the young Saudi who was a clear winner from Daa and Bilal, who had worked tirelessly for his team captain. Guanlao hung on for third from the fast finishing Jaime Sunga, Rob Patrick, George Morete and Arnel Maniago, with an exhausted Nasser just tailed off in the final run-in.

Results: 1 Sultan, 2 Norberto Daa, 3 Belal, 4 Geron Guanlao, 5 Jaime Sunga, 6 Rob Patrick, 7 George Morete, 8 Arnel Maniago, 9 Nasser Al Mutrad, 10 Mamdouh,11 Stuart Elliott, 12 Ralph Chan, 13 Kevin Walsh, 14 Jose Altavas, 15 Saad, 16 Michael Garth, 17 Ruben Silvan, 18 Scott Waight, 19 Abdulmajeed, 20 Rene Bitong, 21 Alan Garcia, 22 Bernard Detomal, 23 Fernando Requillo.DNF Bob Paluf.

Categories

Open: Sultan,

Veteran: Geron Guanlao,

Master: George Morete,

Seniro: Rob Patrick.