By STAFF WRITER, Guardian Sports Desk

The New Providence Cycling Association (NPCA) staged its 'Blake Road Cycling Classic' this past Saturday, and Lee Farmer from Team VMG emerged as the overall winner.

The first of what is expected to be an annual classic, was very competitive. The weather conditions appeared to play a major part as the wind was blowing strongly, which made it very difficult for the riders to pedal and control their bikes. It was full of action from the beginning to the end.

Tracey Sweeting, Lawrence Jupp from Team JAR, and Farmer set the early pace. Farmer suddenly made his break, and the only man to go with him was his teammate Barron 'Turbo' Musgrove. Musgrove later faded as Farmer cruised to an easy victory. Musgrove finished second, and Sweeting held off Rolf Fasth for third place.

In the juniors, Jay Major from Team JAR held off Anthony 'Biggie' Colebrook from Team Warriors to secure the victory and Deangelo Sturrup from Team Warriors finished third. In the Masters Over 40 division, Jeff Major from Team JAR prevailed over Robert Bethel from Team Warriors and George Smith finished up third. Carmel Stucki finished six laps in the Elite Women division to take that title, and Carol Claus secured the Masters Women division.

Team Warriors swept the top four spots in the Junior Boys II division (Under-17 years). Those riders covered 16 miles over two laps. First place went to Dashawn Edgecombe, Jakoda Johnson came in second, Shelton Williams was third, and Carlano Bain rounded out the top four.

The next event on the NPCA calendar is scheduled next week Sunday at the National Cycling Track at the Queen Elizabeth Sports Center. That event, which is dubbed the 'NPCA Track Clash', is expected to be very fast and exciting. It is scheduled for a 4.45 pm start, and organizers are encouraging all cycling enthusiasts and the general public at large to come out and be a part this event. They are also encouraging fathers to come out and bring their sons to the track as there will be a 'father against son' race.

Meanwhile, the 6th Annual Gregory Town Pineapple Festival Cycling Classic will be held on Saturday June 2, in Gregory Town, Eleuthera. The out island championship started out as a vision of veteran cyclists Sam 'Iron' Brown and Barron 'Turbo' Musgrove who both traveled to Eleuthera for an annual triathlon event. After the annual triathlon event was canceled, they looked into starting a bike race, and in addition to this, they looked at establishing a local club/association/committee to organize the event. Musgrove, Bill Holland, Ms Jackie Gibson and Ms Thompson took up the challenge.

The event is scheduled for a 9 am start, and will cover a total distance of 40 miles. Quite a number of divisions will be contested, including Senior I, II and III, Open Women, Junior Boys 15-17 years, Junior Boys 12-14 years and the Masters division (50 and Over).

All cyclists are required to have cycling licenses, and all must wear protective helmets. The event is sanctioned by the Bahamas Amateur Cycling Federation (BACF), and its rules do apply. Registration for the event can be done here in New Providence from May 20-30, on June 1 at the Tourism booth at the festival site in Gregory Town, and also from as early as 7.30 am at the race site on the Saturday morning of the event.

"We encourage those cyclists who plan to attend the Pineapple Cycling Classic who wish to stay over, to please book your rooms early as rooms go fast, by the month of May," said multiple winner and event organizer Musgrove through a press release.

The race itself is expected to start/finish in front of Cambridge Villas in Gregory Town. The route moves south into Hatchet Bay, onto the settlement of Rainbow Bay. At this stage, the cyclists will make a U-turn and head back in the opposite direction along the same course they came to Cambridge Villas in Gregory Town. Once at Cambridge Villas, the route will continue on heading north traveling over the Glass Window Bridge, going onto Bogue, and from Bogue, return over the Glass Window Bridge, ending at Cambridge Villas for the final time.

The Juniors will leave Cambridge Villas head north over the bridge, travel on to Bogue, return from Bogue past the bridge, and end up at Cambridge Villas. Presentations will be made to the winners at a ceremony in the square around 5 pm.