Age is truly just a number and it was quite evident over the past two days as 48-year-old Phillip Clarke, a Barbadian, conquered competitors much younger, to win the National Sports Commission (NSC) 40^th Independence Three-Stage Cycle Road Race.

After battling for 165 miles, Clarke, who rode for a Trinidadian club, accumulated 35 points to pip Guyana’s Romello Crawford and Curtis Dey, who tied for 34 points, in the final tally on Sunday.

Crawford won the first leg, 40 miles, from Corriverton to New Amsterdam in a time of one hour, 48 minutes and 27 seconds while Clarke won the second stage, 60 miles, from Berbice Bridge to Carifesta Avenue, in what officials deemed to be a record time of two hours, 20 minutes and 45 seconds (2:20.45s).

Robin Persaud (27 points), Alexander Leung (17 points), Emmanuel Gayral of Antigua and Barbuda (11 points), and Jorryn Simpson of Suriname (11 points) rounded off the top positions.

The overall winner got G$150,000, second G$110,000, third G$80,000, fourth G$60,000, fifth G$50,000, and sixth G$35,000.

Persaud won the final stage, 65 miles, from Linden to Homestretch Avenue, in a time of two hours, 50 minutes and 11 seconds (2:50.11s), and also copped the top prize for the veterans  (40-45).

Another sparkle of the race was 15-year-old Alexander Leung, completing all three stages on his way to deserved Juniors title.

Director of Sport, Steve Ninvalle, charged the Guyana Cycling Federation (GCF) to invest in programme to develop the youths since “they are the future”.

Furthermore, Ninvalle asked the GCF to consider hosting a five-stage event and to incorporate courses outside of the norm in Berbice and Demerara, and assured the NSC will continue to assist.