There is a new rider in town. In only his first month, Vincentian Orano Andrews is beginning to make his presence felt in the Virgin Islands and on Sunday, he out sprinted veteran rider, Chris Ghiorse to win the Nature’s Little Secrets Cycling Club (NLSCC) annual “NAGICO Insurances Beef and Brandy” Race.

Returning from a good showing in the John T. Memorial/OECS Championships in Anguilla where he represented St. Vincent, Andrews kept abreast with fellow Elite rider Ghiorse, who broke away from the pack on Church Hill during the first lap, leaving Neil Thomas, Lisa Adamson, Sally Blackmore and Hank Vergeer to battle it out.

In the last 200 meters, it came down to strategy as each waited on the other to open the sprint for the finish line just outside the Terrence B. Lettsome Airport. Andrews proved too quick on Sunday and pulled off a stunning first victory in the Territory. Lisa Adamson finished 3rd overall and took 1st place in the Women’s Elite.

 “He is a tough guy but I favoured my sprint. I am always a sprinter. It was good strategy throughout the race and after I saw him break away I decided to keep with him,” said Andrews.

Ghiorse said that he used the race to test a few things about the new comer and that he was better poised to take him on in future races.

“Orano is in really good shape right now, we kind of break away on the first lap. I wanted to see how good he is in the sprints and he just proved it because he beat me by half a bike length. Next time I will have to be more crafty,” Ghiorse noted.     

Eleven riders turned up for the 30 miles event although many riders were off island, having ridden in a stage of the Tour de France raising funds for VISAR and the BVI Red Cross.

Sunday’s race started from Beef Island taking riders west past the HLSCC with a turnaround in Brandywine Bay. Elite riders completed 3 laps, and social riders did 3 laps, with a turnaround into the College.

Despite the early moves by Ghiorse and Andrews, on the second lap, Adamson and Thomas sprinted up Brandywine Hill, opening the field whilst trying to make up time on the two leaders.

In the Social class, Kay Reddy was making moves against three other riders who were battling it out for bragging rights.

At the beginning of the last lap, Blackmore made a huge effort and broke away to leave Vergeer trailing in her dust, she would go on to finish 2nd in the Women’s Elite.  At the Brandywine turnaround, Thomas suffered a flat tire that took him out of the race which enabled Adamson to make a dash towards the finish.

In the Social classes, Kay Reddy was top rider for the day in the Women’s with 18-year-old Nashon Thomas topping the men in his first NLSCC race.

Following the race, NLSCC thanked sponsors NAGICO Insurances for supporting the Club and helping to promote cycling in the BVI, the Red Cross, volunteers and all the cyclists who took part. The next race slated on the Club’s calendar is the D&B Big Truck Time Trial on Sunday July 20.

The Full results are as follows.

Elite Men:

Orano Andrews  1:34:53   1st

Chris Ghiorse     1:34:53   2nd

Hank Vergeer     1:47:28   3rd

Neil Thomas       DNF

Steve Marsh       DNF

Elite Women:

Lisa Adamson      1:36:26  1st

Sally Blackmore   1:40:04  2nd

Social Men:

Nashon Thomas   1:37:32   1st

Rusty Burns          1:40:02    2nd

Erasmus George    1:45:19   3rd

Social Women:

Kay Reddy     1:36:19   1st 

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