FOLLOWING the completion of the first cycling programme around the inner circuit of the National Park earlier this month, national cycling coach Hassan Mohamed promised to keep the cyclists and cycling enthusiasts active this year. “I want to see the cyclists involved in as many races as possible, in here and on the road. To that effect, I have planned over 25 programmes for my club Carlton Wheelers, which means you will be kept active throughout the year, as we also have the annual Independence three-stage and the five-stage races,” said Mohammed.
True to his word, Mohamed has organised the running-off of the 21st annual R&R International-sponsored Mashramani cycling events for this weekend, beginning with the 11-race programme around the inner circuit of the National Park today and culminating in a 40-mile road race on the West Bank of Demerara tomorrow morning, with both events set to pedal off at 09:00hrs.
Today’s feature event will be the Schoolboys and Invitation 35 laps race, of which local and Roraima Bikers Club sprint king Alonso Greaves is the defending champion, having won last year’s race in a time of 1.16:14s.
He can expect stern opposition from the in-form Warren ‘40’ McKay, Robin Persaud, the unrelated Geron and Marlon Williams, Junior Niles, Raymond Newton and the vast-improving trio of junior cyclists in Michael Anthony, Raynauth Jeffrey and Paul De Nobrega among others.
Anthony is the defending champion for the Juveniles 10-lap race which he won last year in a time of 23:10s, but like Greaves, he too can expect some stiff opposition from De Nobrega and Jeffrey, if he intends to repeat as champion.
Kennard Lovell, the winner of the Veterans Under-50 five-lap race last year, having done so in a time of 13:27s, will defend same against the likes of Niles, Raymond ‘Steely’ Newton, just to name a few.
The riders will turn their attention to the West Bank Demerara carriageway tomorrow morning, when they compete in the 40-mile road race, commencing from the Demerara Harbour Bridge. They will proceed to Bushy Park on the East Bank of Essequibo and back to the place of origin for the finish.
The first six finishers overall, along with the first two veterans and junior cyclists will receive prizes for this event, of which Robin Persaud is the defending champion, after  he took last year’s event in a time of 1.42:41s. There will be six prime prizes up for grabs during the course of the race.
Former cyclist and Managing Director of R & R International Limited, Jacob Rambarran is expected to distribute the prizes to the respective winners at the completion of the event.