Darren Glasford of Winners Edge recorded the fastest time among the men and Alysson Rowse for the women during last evening’s hill climb in the first stage of the Butterfield Bermuda Grand Prix in St George’s.

Glasford, the last rider to make the climb, certainly saved the best for last as he made the 600-metre climb in 49.718 seconds, as a strong head wind just past the unfinished church tested the cyclists in the sprint to the finish line.

“I usually sit most of the hill and in the last half I sprint, but I wasn’t able to sprint and had to sit back down and kick again,” Glasford said. “The headwind made it feel like I was going slow but everybody had the same conditions.

“Because the wind was coming off the ocean the closer you got to the finish the stronger it was. But I’m quite pleased.”

Glasford put it in perspective heading into this morning’s road race at Southside and tomorrow’s criterium in Hamilton, knowing that the gap after the hill climb can easily be closed.

“The time gap is not significant enough to make it anybodies race, the Grand Prix is still open,” Glasford said. “Somebody who is fifteen seconds down tomorrow [today], if they break away can get the race. It’s a nice win. but in the grand scheme of things it doesn’t mean anything for the overall.”

Winners Edge youngsters Matthew Oliveira and Kaden Hopkins came second and third which puts the team in a good position going into the second stage.

“It’s good for our team and good for the confidence going into tomorrow,” Glasford said.

“We started the season off nice with a first in the road race and a second in the criterium last week, so we’re looking forward to tomorrow’s and Sunday’s race and hopefully we can take the overall and a couple more stages.

“We’ve got some sprinters and time trialists so hopefully we can make it an exciting race.”

Glasford was second to team-mate Mark Hatherley last year in the hill climb, clocking a time of 47.116 seconds while yesterday he was a couple of seconds slower as the wind met him near the top of the hill.

Rowse clocked the fastest time of the women, 1.01.978 to put herself in early contention.

“It was a hard race, at the end there was a head wind that I wasn’t prepared for but it wasn’t that bad and I ended up getting a pretty good time,” the 16-year-old said.

“I was pleased with my effort, I was aiming to get around that time. It’s a relief because at least I have a few seconds to play with so if I don’t win the sprint I’ll still be up there.

“But then it’s not a big enough time gap and I’ll still have to race hard. Hopefully the other races will go well.”

Zoenique Williams, the women’s champion, is pleased with how she coped in her first outing of the season.

“It was something like a minute and eight seconds, a little slower than last year but that is to be expected as this was my first race,” said Williams, who finished in 1.01 last year.

“I don’t want to put the pressure on myself, the hill sprint helps gauge where you are, but you can always make up that time.

“I’ll see how it goes, I’m out here to have fun.” Williams is fourth behind Rowse, Sarah Bonnett, who posted a 1:06.203, and Ashley Estwanik, who finished the climb in 1:07.904.

Dave McComas, the men’s defending champion, is fourth in the men’s A after finishing in 51.955 seconds. Hopkins clocked 50.357 and Oliveira 51.108.

Rajul Mathie leads the male B category after finishing in 49.026 while Kion Richardson, 1:05.212, and Megan Hands, 1:27.891, are the junior leaders. Blake Oliveira leads the under-12 boys.