Lovell takes stage 4 but Swede still leads M & M
The bad news is that it’s creating some inconvenience for motorists on our major highways. The good news–at least during Valentine’s week–is that it has put on display over a hundred young men in tight shorts. What I’m talking about, of course, is the M and M Tour of Belize. James Adderley has today’s results.
Stage 4 of the M & M Engineering Tour blasted off this morning on the Western Highway, winding its way to the turn-around point at mile 25, and then heading to the finish line at Leslie’s Imports to complete the 50 mile package.
Now meet some of the players still in the hunt, people. Defending champion Marlon Castillo of Santino’s is 2 minutes, 48 seconds behind; Miguel Perez of the Guatemalan National team comes in with the Sprinters Jersey, 50 seconds behind; Guy East of Sun Digital Photo is 1 minute 24 second off the pace; Mike Miller of Alliance Environmental is the best master going in and he’s 3 minutes, 8 seconds behind the pace; Omar Cruz of Roaring Creek Cycling Club has emerged the best category 3, 4 and 5 rider coming into day 4, 4 minutes, 6 seconds off the pace; and of course the yellow jersey belongs to Bjorn Anderson, the Swedish sensation of Comfort Air – he’s the man they’re all aiming at today.
Edgar Och of Cable DX-Decorabanos Team from Guatemala makes the first real move of the outing skating from about 14 miles, through Hattieville, but is reeled in right after that.
At the halfway mark, Marlon Castillo has stepped up to swing the curve first. As you can see Belizeans, this is a most primitive turn-around in an international race in this new millennium and indeed, we can conclude it brings jeopardy to the athletes.
Darnell Barrow of Benny’s Mega Bytes, nevertheless, is the man who tries to run away on the way back.
But by mile 14, Barrow has been caught by the pack.
At mile 9 we find a very compacted pelathon streaming its way to Belize City, which translates into a mighty field sprint at the finish.
And here it comes! They turn the corner; Greg Lovell and Miguel Perez lock horns. Lovell then gets challenged by Todd Hancock, who has to settle for second place; Miguel Perez pulls up third, Guy East takes fourth place, and Seth Hensley rounds out the top 5.
Coming into Stage 4, Greg Lovell, who had won stage I, was unfortunately 4 minutes, 37 seconds behind the race leader.
Gregory Lovell, Winner, Stage 4
“I was looking to win the sprint because I’m in second place…the Green Jersey. And I was trying to earn the Green Jersey, and I see it was lot a work out there, and other teams is attacking, and it’s really hard. So I just sit down and try see what would be the result.”
James Adderley
“Tell us about the sprint because all the big time names were there, it was field sprint of at least 50 riders. Tell us about your move”
Gregory Lovell
“Well, see it’s like a game and it’s really hard for you to stay up front. The pack is always shuffling and you just have to be strong and stay up front behind the stronger guys and know who is the better sprinter. You can’t let them be far away from you.”
James Adderley
“Do you still have that confidence that you could win this tour?”
Gregory Lovell
“Well, I had said before, the tour really decide on the individual time trial and the better climber. Every day the race is getting tougher and tougher. This is my role on the team – try to win the sprints. I’m one of the better sprinters on the team so we all can’t win the race, you one can’t decide on one person to win the race. There are other jerseys out there that we can earn and once one guy on our team win, we all win because it’s a team work”
We say good luck to Greg Lovell as the journey continues, and you know, Greg Lovell does own 2 mountain bikes from his 2 wins.
Tomorrow brings up Stage V in the M & M Engineering Cycle Tour – a 50 mile ride on the Boon circuit. Bjorn Anderson remains the man with the coveted yellow stuff. We leave you now with a glimpse of all the big timers coming out of Stage 4 of this 9 stage race and of course we’ll see you tomorrow. I’m James Adderley, reporting for News Five.
In the final bit of sports news, the Belize National Football Team last night lost to Nicaragua four goals to two and has been eliminated from the UNCAF Nation’s Cup competition.
