LOCAL cyclists can gear themselves up for another hectic weekend when the Banks DIH/Malta Supreme and Seven Seas/Dr Chase’s programmes pedal off around the inner circuit of the National Park and on the West Bank of Demerara respectively. Both races have been organised by national cycling coach Hassan Mohamed and Saturday’s programme will have 11 races scheduled, starting with the BMX events and concluding with the School Boys and Invitational 35-lap event.
Banks DIH’s Clayton McKenzie, Brand Manager for Malta Supreme, a non-alcoholic beverage, will be on hand to assist with the distribution of prizes at the conclusion of this programme.
Newly-crowned national road race champions, Orville Hinds (seniors) and Raynauth Jeffrey (juniors) and reigning veteran champion Junior Niles are all expected to be in action for Sunday’s event.
The race which is being held to celebrate Caricom Day will get under way at 09:00hrs and will see the cyclists pedal off from the Wales Police Station, proceed to Bushy Park on the East Bank of Essequibo before returning to finish at the Demerara Harbour Bridge.
The Veterans, Uprights, Females will turn back at Uitvlugt Community Centre and finish at the Harbour Bridge and the first six finishers will receive prizes, along with the first three juniors, Veterans and Upright cyclists.
The first two female finishers will also be rewarded, together with the first Over-60 finisher in the Veterans category, while the seniors will have eight prime prizes to battle for, during the 50-mile event.
When the event was held last year, Carlton Wheelers Cycle Club’s Robin Persaud was the first senior cyclist to cross the line, completing the event in a time of 1.54:43secs while dethroned junior road race champion Paul De Nobrega, Jude Bentley, Naomi Singh and Walter Isaacs were the first junior, upright, female and Veteran Over-60 finishers respectively.
And representative from Geddes Grant Limited, the sole distributor for Dr Chase’s and Seven Seas products, will be on hand to distribute the prizes to the winning participants.