Roque Matus dominates M & M Tour

For the past three days, early morning activity on the Western Highway has been dominated by participants in the male edition of the M and M Engineering Tour for category three, four and five riders. News Five’s Janelle Chanona and cameraman Godfrey Ramsey have been among those early risers and file the following report on the race.

Janelle Chanona, Reporting
At dawn on Wednesday some thirty-six riders lined up to take part in the 2006 M and M Engineering Tour. Day one took the pelathon on a round trip to Rockville and the results of that race put Roque Matus in the yellow jersey, Charles Lewis in sprinter?s green, while Ray Cattouse wore white as leader in the master?s category.

On Thursday morning, the cyclists set off to complete the Boom Circuit.

This first breakaway by Guinness rider Ernest Turton would be shut down fast, but a similar attempt by Benny?s John Newport, Santino?s Charlie Lewis, and C-Ray?s Glen O?Brien was more successful. The trio would hold the main pelathon at bay through most of the course. But following the jump for the mile ten ?premies?, the crowd realizes its crunch time and the pack starts to step it up. Fast forward to the finish line and everybody is back together.

But poor officiating leads to near disaster as several vehicles threaten to wreck the sprint. The riders recover well and it?s Roque Matus holding on to his position as race leader.

Today?s individual time trials featured a six mile course from mile two to mile eight on the Western Highway. While most of the riders completed the race in the fifteen to sixteen minute range, it was Roque Matus riding in impressive solo fashion to finish with a time of 14 minutes 24 seconds.

On Saturday, the riders head for the hills starting at mile thirty on the Western Highway and then onto the Hummingbird Highway for laps between Belmopan and the Sibun Bridge. Sunday will see the survivors leaving Loma Luz for a sixty five mile ride into Belize City.

Reporting for News Five, I am Janelle Chanona.

According the organizers, following today’s time trial, the top ten cyclists in the tour are Roque Matus, John Newport, Sherman Thomas, Ray Cattouse, Wendell Williams, Ernest Thurton, John Burns, Fitzgerald Joseph, Adrian Faux and Glenn O’Brien.