THE 2014 cycling season will close today with the staging of the 15th annual Diamond Mineral Water 50-mile road race in the West Demerara area, and is being coordinated by national cycle coach Hassan Mohamed.

The race starts from outside the Wales Police Station at 08:00 hrs and from there the senior and junior riders will proceed to Bushy Park, East Bank Essequibo and turn back to finish by the Demerara Harbour Bridge, while the veterans, mountain bikers and ladies will turn back at Uitvlugt and finish at the same location as the seniors and juniors.
Warren McKay won the event last year in a time of one hour, 54 minutes .08 seconds and will be looking to repeat last year’s feat.
However, he will have to be wary of Hamza Eastman who has had a reasonable season so far this year and who won the just concluded Guyana Teachers Union/Ministry of Education’s 40-mile road race event in the National Schools Track and Field, Cycling and Swimming Championships.
Eastman was the first junior to cross the finish line in last year’s edition of the event.
Apart from Eastman, McKay will also have to contend with Paul DeNobrega, Alonzo Greaves, Marlon `Fishy’ Williams and Orville Hinds among others.
Esau Oselmo won the veterans Under- 50 years category, while Ozia McAullay won the winner of the mountain bike category.
Jamal John won the Mixed category and Walter `Buck Man’ Issacs was first in the veterans over 60 years category.
The first six finishers overall will be rewarded with trophies and cash incentives, and the top three juniors will be rewarded likewise.
The first three mountain bikers as well as the first three ladies will also be rewarded.
A representative of Demerara Distillers Limited will be on hand to make the presentation of prizes to the respective winners in each of the categories.