Mathy outsprints young Saudi riders to win RW race

The fact that 24 riders contested the sprint for first place is a clear indication the standard of the Riyadh Wheelers is improving. Using a newly designed circuit, the first road race of the season was contested by a record turnout of 86 riders, which produced some exciting racing at an average speed of over 40kph. The lack of hills plus the calm weather could have been a factor in keeping the large lead pack together, but this does not take anything away from the impressive performance put on by 2012 club champion, Thierry Mathy, who once again proved what a great all rounder he is. The race distance of only 46km prompted some lively riding from the strong group of young Saudi riders who again displayed their familiar style of attacking riding, and quickly had the field torn to shreds. From this melee, two large groups emerged, separated initially by a few seconds, but which grew to several minutes as the race took its toll. Keeping the pace high at the front were Bruno Syfrig, Chad Albury, Martin Ball and George Morete, who were determined to try and burn off the sprinters before the finish, but due to the course and conditions not being hard enough, their efforts came to naught, as Mathy emerged from the pack to take a fine sprint victory. Photo finish equipment was required to place the rest of the field as the time keepers struggled to identify so many riders. Thanks go once again to Carrefour Le Mall which provided the excellent refreshments. The next event is a 40km time trial starting at 7 a.m. Results: 1 T.Mathy, 2 Sultan 3 H AlShabeeb, 4 A AlMorai, 5 P Cudey, 6 M.Ball, 7 N Daa, 8 S Jenkins, 9 J Villalobos Moreno, 10 A Carinan, 11 J Kuba, 12 K Ahlin, 13 TBN, 14 G Swinburne, 15 V Engel, 16 C Albury, 17 J Roetter, 18 T Williams, 19 S Waight, 20 F Vevola, 21 G Morete, 22 K Bowker, 23 R Patrick, 24 G Guanlao, 25 B Syfrig, 26 D Wright, 27 S Gillespie, 28 P McParland, 29 A MacLachlan, 30 C Johnson, 31 J.Cordial, 32 F AlKazime, 33 R Flores, 34 TBN, 35 J Sunga, 36 E Gabuco, 37 A Geara, 38 M Suckling, 39 R Gocian, 40 D Del Rosario, 41 M Webb, 42M AlSweliem, 43 H Al Omran, 44 V Mathy, 45 TBN, 46 K Pickles, 47 H Rom, 48 J Torrontegui, 49 D Oliver, 50 J Garbutt, 51 M Lincoln, 52 J Joubert, 53 O Tuazon, 54 Z Hymns, 55 A Warner, 56 J Flores, 57 R Bitong, 58 F Requillo, 59 F Gocian, 60    S Whitfield, 61 C Brown, 62 A Garcia, 63 G Zondagh, 64 Q Rowland, 65 J.Saruskova, 66 R Pedrosa, 67 TBN, 68 R Mayor, 69 A Rodrigez Castellanos, 70 A Francisco, 71 E Gillespie, 72 E Donnellan, 73 J Saluta, 74 M.Van Maastreicht, 75 M Araujo, 76 E Lando. DNF A Maniago, J Hymns, M Molina, R Catoneon, F Alhammoud, G McGregor. Categories: Open Sultan, Veteran T.Mathy Master S.Jenkins, Senior J.Kuba, Cat B V. Mathy Arab news