CYCLISTS wishing to participate in the Golden Jubilee Three-Stage cycle road race have until Monday to get registered for the 174-mile event which is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday May 14 and 15.According to one of the assistant organisers of the annual event, to date no foreign cyclist has registered, but the Anguilla Cycling Association has expressed an interest in sending a team.
The organizer, who wished to remain anonymous, however could not state the strength of the team.
Asked about the prize (finance) structure for this year’s event, the source said it will remain the same as last year and the overall budget will be reduced.
Another source close to the organising committee informed Chronicle Sport that the participating athletes and officials will be transported to Berbice and Linden for the start of stages one and three by buses from the Ministry of Sport..
This, the source said, will cut the cost significantly as in the past, minibuses were hired by the Ministry to transport the athletes and officials.
Over the past 30-odd years, the event was coordinated solely by National cycle coach Hassan Mohamed. However, for this year’s Golden Jubilee Independence edition, a committee has been put in place to work in tandem with Mohamed.
One of the sources who spoke with Chronicle Sport informed that the committee was given the go-ahead by Director of Sport Christopher Jones, who has “committed a certain sum of money to the event, and the committee was forced to trim the accessories to fit.”
According to the source, Mohamed has provided the letters seeking approval from the Guyana Police Force’s Traffic Department to stage the event and a letter to Demerara Distillers Limited seeking assistance.
Also Joseph Britton, who usually assists Mohamed with the organising of the event, has been working on getting the letters out.
Local clubs have been updated on the status by mail and phone calls and for those desirous of competing and are in need of transportation to travel to Berbice next Friday, buses will be at the Ministry of Education Department of Sport’s Main Street office.
It is understood that former national cyclists Dwayne Gibbs and Tyrone Hamilton have pledged their support if needed.
Their input would be to transport foreign teams around the country and to secure accommodation. (Michael DaSilva)