Just as General Buddhoe symbolizes strength and resilience, so too did the riders in this year’s Buddhoe & Beyond Road Race. Faced with a last-minute course relocation from Frederiksted to Southside Road due to poor road conditions, cyclists adapted without missing a beat—ready to test their endurance on a tougher route.
The Sunday morning heat bore down hard on the exposed 7-mile loop, where 21 cyclists lined up to race a course known for its fast flats and punishing climbs up Three Trees Hill.
The Elite division was packed with firepower. Visiting rider Nick LaHaye joined local powerhouse Stephen Swanton and collegiate multi-sport athlete Mikey Dizon-Bumann for a 49-mile showdown. The trio rode in tight formation through lap one, but as the pace ramped up on lap two, Robin Seila, the Virgin Islands’ top female Elite rider, was dropped from the group and exited after the third lap. The remaining three took turns pushing the pace, but it was Dizon-Bumann who had the legs in the final stretch, surging to a first-place finish. LaHaye claimed second, and Swanton rounded out the podium in third.
In the Expert category, the 35-mile race featured five determined riders all chasing gold. By lap four, Ted Prosper made a decisive move, breaking away with a 30-second gap. He held that lead through the final lap and crossed the line unchallenged. Joey Swanson delivered a strong performance to finish second. Meanwhile, Jerry Remie and Guy Augustin were locked in a battle for third when a mishap took Remie out of contention—his cleat slipped, causing a crash and giving Augustin a clear path to third place.
The Sport field may have been smaller, but it was no less competitive. Joseph Thomas and Yves Abraham matched each other stride for stride for most of the 28-mile race. On the final lap, Thomas made his move, pulling ahead to secure a convincing win. Abraham followed in for second.
The Masters division (21 miles) split early into two packs. Troy Holloway and Ralph Bartlett pushed the pace from the front, steadily distancing themselves from the rest of the field. Holloway waited until the third and final lap to launch his attack, pulling ahead of Bartlett to claim the win. Bartlett held on for second, while Nelson Rojas took third.
In the Women’s race, also 21 miles, five riders rolled out strong. Catherine Seguin made an early move and set the tone from lap one. Lily Graham, back home on summer break from college, worked with veteran rider Enid Frances to maintain a strong, steady rhythm. On the final lap, Graham surged ahead of Frances to secure second place, with Frances rounding out the top three.
In addition to medals for the top three in each racing category, each podium finisher received a gift certificate to race sponsor, Pizza Mare. Pizza Mare, which is also known for their local dishes, is located in Estate La Grande Princesse.
The next event on the Virgin Islands Cycling Federation calendar is the M2M Time Trial on Sunday, July 20 at 7 a.m. The 10-mile course starts near the Canegata Ball Park and finishes near Sally’s Fancy on St. Croix’s Southside Road. For more information, call 340-643-5050.
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