LOCAL cyclists will be in action once again this weekend as national cycle coach, Hassan Mohamed, will be conducting his 19th Annual Mashramani 40-mile Road Race on Sunday.
The race will commence at the Demerara Harbour Bridge at 09:00 h and proceed to Bushy Park on the East Bank of Essequibo before returning to the place or origin for the finish.
The first finishers will receive prizes as will the first two juniors and two veterans (open category).
Roraima Bikers’ Warren McKay is the defending champion in the senior category while Christopher Holder is the junior category defending champion and Raymond Newton the veterans’ defending champion.
This year however, all three defending champions will be hard-pressed to retain their titles, as other riders expected to face the starter all showed great form last weekend when there were two races on consecutive days.
In the senior category, McKay is expected to get keen competition from the likes of Leer Nunes, Albert Philander, Jude Bently and Marlon `Fishy’ Williams among others.
Holder will have his work cut out and should be tested by Geron Williams, Daniel Ramchurjee and Enzo Matthews among others.
Newton, on the other hand, can expect keen competition from Junior Niles and Linden Blackman among others.
The annual programme is being sponsored by R&R International Limited.
Cyclists are reminded to wear their club jerseys.