RICHARD TANGUY won a dramatic Round the Bays Race in 1 hr 46 min 15 sec yesterday, to lift the inaugural Tony Richomme Memorial Trophy, but before that eight cyclists had already crossed the finishing line – only to be immediately disqualified.

They came out of St Catherine’s okay but then managed to turn sharp right at Ransom’s and came in, sprinting like hell, from the direction of St Martin’s Church,’ said CCC secretary Gordon Wright.

‘They hadn’t realised it, but they were coming in from completely the wrong direction.’ For the other riders, this 38-mile race was one of the toughest courses of the year.

Veteran rider Alan Miller put the race in perspective when he said that, in total, the round the bay race includes a total incline of 3,000ft, taking into account all of the hills the cyclists have to climb.

‘When you consider where the riders have to start, from the lowest part to some of the highest parts of the Island, it’s very difficult indeed,’ he said.

Both he and Gordon Wright, however, were also quick to pay tribute to how many riders had started the course; more than double the number of usual riders, simply because this race was associated with the name of former Island Games cyclist and manager, Tony Richomme.

‘There was a marvellous turn-out,’ said Miller.

‘And everyone stayed to the end, when the shield was awarded to the winner by Tony’s widow, Elaine.

We had mountain bike riders plus one guy who hadn’t ridden for the last five years – it was very moving to see so many riders staying through for the end.’ With Sam Firby away in the UK at the weekend, Vélo’s Richard Tanguy broke free from a chasing group and won comfortably, over 30 seconds ahead of Chris Spence, from Caesareans, who in turn finished over two minutes ahead of Jim Garrett.