THE Guyana Cycling Federation (GCF), in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sport (MCYS) and the Ministry of Health (MOH), will once again host the ‘Ride for Life’ cycle road race which is scheduled to pedal off on October 6. The road race which is in its fifth year was officially launched yesterday at the National AIDS Secretariat building on Hadfield Street and College Road and was branded ‘Ride for Life 5’.
Present at the launching were Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Dr Frank Anthony, Minister of Health Dr Leslie Ramsammy and president of the GCF, Cheryl Thompson, who all made brief remarks.
Other persons present at the launch included National cycling coach Hassan Mohamed M.S., Nazim Hussein, community mobilisation coordinator, Dr Shanti Singh, Programme Manager  of the National AIDS Secretariat and Director of Sport Neil Kumar.
Dr Anthony stated that the previous events were successful and this year will be no different as everything is in place for a successful staging of the fifth edition.
The minister added that the five-stage Tour of Guyana race is the most prestigious cycle race in Guyana and further said that he is pleased with the growth in quantity and the quality of the race.
He said: “The race serves as an avenue for local cyclists to gain experience and to learn tricks and new techniques from the foreign riders.”
Dr Ramsammy disclosed that on October 2, the cycling event called the ‘Big Ride’ will complement the staging of the Tour of Guyana.
Dr Ramsammy contended that the ‘Big Ride’ will help to encourage and promote physical activity and a positive lifestyle as well as increase the awareness about HIV/ AIDS among the participants and the general public.
He revealed that the Big Ride attracted around 1 000 riders last year and this year he hopes to see that number increased to 1 500 or more.
The Big Ride will pedal off at 16:00hrs from the UG public road and will end at Carifesta Sports Complex. The event will also coincide with the National Week of Testing (October 3 to 7) and Caribbean Wellness Month.
Meanwhile as an incentive for taking part in the Big Ride, three lucky participants will each receive a bicycle.
Thompson stated that the federation is pleased to partner with the MOE especially to help promote health awareness among cyclists and the public at large.
Thompson also disclosed that the tour will attract four teams from the Caribbean as well as Miami Florida’s Team Coco. The president expects bigger and better performances from the local cyclists, as they have been exposed to a very high standard of international cycling of late.
The highly anticipated five-stage race is expected to attract Guyana’s top riders as well as cyclists from the Caribbean and the USA. The race will cover a distance of 266 miles.
Stage one commences at 07:30hrs and will pedal off from Corriverton and run its course of 46 miles until it ends at New Amsterdam then later in the day at 14.00hrs the cyclists ride the 60-mile route from Rosignol to Georgetown.
Day two will see the commencement of stage three which will be from Wales to Parika (35 miles) while day three the fourth stage will start at 07:30hrs from Supenaam and conclude at Suddie (62 miles).
The final day, October 8, will see the 62-mile fifth stage beginning at 08:30hrs as the cyclists travel from Linden to Georgetown.
Past winners of the tour of Guyana include inaugural winner Alonzo Greaves, Junior Niles in 2008, Geron Williams in 2009 and Antonio Quimtero of the USA in 2010.