NATIONAL cycle coach Hassan Mohamed has organised back-to-back cycle races for local cyclists this weekend. The races are being sponsored by R&R International Limited and this will be the company’s 25th year of sponsoring the two events.The first programme is scheduled for the inner circuit of the National Park and will consist of 11 races with the first event wheeling off at 09:00hrs.
On Sunday, there will be a 40-mile road race on the West Demerara beginning at 08:00hrs in the vicinity of the Demerara Harbour Bridge.
Saturday’s activity will see cyclists in a number of age groups battle for honours with the feature event being a 35-lap race which is open to schoolboys, novices and invitational pedal-pushers.
The defending champion is Hamza Eastman who unfortunately will not be defending his title, since he left Guyana last week for the United States of America (USA) to train and compete on the U.S. circuit.
Last year, Eastman registered one hour, 15 minutes .03 seconds in winning the 35-lap race and in his absence on Saturday, the event will be wide open to attract a new winner.
Who that cyclist will be is anyone’s guess. Since the 2016 season started last month, there has been some scintillating performances by a number of cyclists including Romelo Crawford and Andrew Hicks of Berbice, Team Gillette Evolution’s Marlon `Fishy’ Williams, Orville Hinds and Raul Leal.
Team Coco’s Raynauth `Obeahman’ Jeffrey is yet to make an impression this season and hopefully he will be eyeing a victory on Saturday.
Apart from the above-mentioned names, there are others who are likely to stamp their authority, come Saturday. There are the likes of Warren McKay, Geron Williams, Robin Persaud and Michael Anthony.
Other races on the card include a 10-lap race for juveniles with the defending champion being Jaleel Jackson who returned 22 minutes 55.11 seconds in winning the event last year.
There will also be five-lap races for veterans under and over 50 years of age as well as three-lap races for boys and girls 12-14 years old, three-lap races for BMK boys 9-12 years old, a three-lap race for mountain bikers and two-lap races for boys and girls 6-9 years old.
Junior Niles is the defending champion for the five-lap race for veterans under 50 years of age. Last year he clocked 11 minutes, 27.56 seconds in winning the event.
Davenand Kapilnauth won the boys and girls three-lap event last year in a time of nine minutes 52.28 seconds while Shawn Boodhram won the three-lap race for mountain bikers.
Jacob Rambarran Jr is expected to assist in the distribution of prizes to the respective winners.