Bermuda Day is celebrated next Monday on May 25th. Our first "real" holiday of the year. It's a day when we have the big parade in Hamilton in the afternoon, fitted dinghy racing, the half marathon and some fast and furious bike racing.
Thinking about this year's edition of what is arguably Bermuda's premier showcase for cycle racing, it's not difficult to cast one's mind back over some of the great races from previous years. There are a number which stand out in my mind because the winner was able to get away from the bunch and ride solo to the finish in what is usually billed as a "sprinters" event with the bunch arriving at the finishing straight more or less intact. However, without a doubt the best-ever victory was that perpetrated by Jeff Payne in 1997 when he and another rider got away early in the race and effectively did a two-up time trial all the way to the finishing straight where he out-sprinted his companion to cross the line first.
Jeff is one of those rare perennial athletes. He was 58 years old then and while one of the strongest time triallists in Bermuda at the time he knew he was not the favourite for this "sprinters" event. His companion was a comparative (but very strong) novice and Jeff reasoned that if they could get enough of a lead to remain out of sight of the main group they might stay away until the finish and that's exactly what happened. Speaking with some of the other riders after the race it appeared that everyone else looked to the pre-race favourite to lead the chase and by the time they realized that he was having none of it the race was over except for the minor placings.
It's interesting to note that Jeff is the only person to have won this race and also the Bermuda Day Half Marathon, a feat which he accomplished in 1980. I think its unlikely we will see that double repeated for quite some time yet.
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