As today?s race attendance became apparent, one could not fail to see the pronounced frustration mounting in Mr. Douglas Lamb. He was quoted as saying, ?Here I am trying, especially for the youths, and detractors continue to manipulate the riding body to suit their own selfish need.? He went on to elaborate after he responded and met the city-based riders? middle ground.

He is still aware of an orchestrated conspiracy to keep riders away from the afternoon races. Is it to deliberately take away from the goal of encompassing the entire nation?s fledgling club spirit that needs the improvement? These clubs, mostly Dangriga, Belmopan City, San Ignacio and the newly formed Orange Walk/Corozal Town Clubs, need continuing exposure where the competition is, which will allow them to rise to the level. This cannot be achieved if the city-based riders do not cooperate. Bigger than that, the riders who can bring their influence into play, fail to see this, and do not help the effort.

All cyclists are fully aware of the many sacrifices they put themselves through to achieve a level of fitness and success. Lo and behold, these sacrifices are thrown away because the body that is expected to direct, develop, regulate, control and discipline cycling, and to promote sportsmanship and fair play, fail their office.

The landscape of cycling has changed considerably, and those who fail to see this will be left behind. In the past it was an individual sport in every sense, but since 1983, it is dominated by teams.

Sun-Tzu?s commentary in the ?Complete Art of War? (Chapter 11) dealing with the nine terrains is saying: ?When you mobilize the army and form strategic plans, you must be unfathomable.? Sun-Tzu believed that soldiers tend to be unfocused ? even distracted ? when comfortable, and concentration on their task becomes more challenging or impossible.

I strongly believe because Mr. Lamb gained some measure of success with the Saturday races, he honestly believed that his work was done and he would be smoothly sailing into the sunset. His wakeup call, however, put him smack where he didn?t want to be. Doug-Doug ? get creative!!!

At 2:45 p.m. the riders showed up to race. Due to today?s turnout the race was set from the regular Mile 2 Acros start/finish line to Hattieville (Mile 15) and back to the start/finish line. The peloton configuration stands as follows: 2 ? Benny?s Megabytes; 2 ? BTL Fusion; 2 ? Santino?s; 2 ? M&M Engineering; and 2 ? unattached riders.

Races with low enlistment usually favor the early aggressive riders. Today?s race was no different. The riders with the steady pace managed to keep the race together all the way up to Mile 7 on the return journey.

Greg Lovell ? BTL Fusion attacked; then Marlon Castillo ? Santino?s, and then young Byron Pope ? Benny?s Megabytes, and vice versa. After half-mile of this carrying on it was Greg prevailing over his rivals. As the other two riders hesitated, he flew away and was never caught again. He finished the distance in 1h?11m?45s, a full 1 minute 18 seconds ahead of Marlon and Byron, who rounded out the podium prizes, respectively. Greg averaged 23.4 mph over the distance.

Announcement:

Saturday races continue to be open events. Next Saturday, September 25, 2005, the race is scheduled to start at 6:00 a.m. All Saturday afternoon race registration will be free to all until further notice. The usual three prizes will be offered.