A NEW champion will be crowned this year when national cycle coach Hassan Mohamed runs off the 33rd edition of the Annual Independence Cycle Road Race on Saturday and Sunday.The defending champion is Team Coco’s Darren Matthews of Barbados who won the overall event in six hours 53 minutes 18 seconds.
However, Matthews might not be here to defend his title as he was in the United States of America as recently as Monday, where he participated in the annual `Tour of Somerville Cycling Classic’. Apart from that, there has been a change in the dates for the Independence event.
It was originally planned for May 16 and 17, but because of the post-election period when tension was high, the organiser Hassan Mohamed decided against staging the event then.
So this meant that Matthews and other foreign cyclists probably had to change their schedules, so the usual regional and international cyclists who look forward to the race might be a no-show this year, leaving an opportunity open for a local rider to occupy the top of the podium.
Last year, Geron Williams placed second (6:54:23), while Marlon `Fishy’ Williams placed third (6.54:30).
Alanzo Greaves, Orville Hinds and Colombian Mauricio Roberio (Team Coco’s) occupied the fourth, fifth and sixth places respectively.
Williams and Greaves were also involved in the ‘Team of Somerville Cycling Series’ as was Scott Savory and their participation in this year’s event is also in doubt.
Another local rider currently campaigning in the United States is Hamza Eastman who won his first race on American soil two weeks ago and no word has been received as to whether he will be back in Guyana for the event.
Last year, Akeem Arthur won the junior category in a time of six hours 56 minutes 25 seconds. Second was Michael Anthony.
Robin Persaud won the veterans’ category ahead of Junior Niles.
Yasman Pol (Team Coco’s) is the current record holder for the overall distance having clocked six hours 44 minutes 56 seconds in 2011.
Pol also holds the record for the first two stages.
In 2011, he returned one hour 38 minutes 31 seconds for the first stage (Corentyne to New Amsterdam) a distance of 46.6 miles and two hours 15 minutes 31 seconds for the second stage (Rosignol to Georgetown) a distance of 60.4 miles.
The third stage record is held by Team Coco’s Ivan Dominiquez who clocked two hours 42 minutes 39 seconds for the Kara Kara, Linden Highway to Homestretch Avenue in 2011 also.