DIRECTOR of Sport within the National Sports Commission (NSC) Neil Kumar yesterday told Chronicle Sport via telephone that  all systems are in place for this year’s 31st edition of the Annual

Independence three-stage cycle road race which is set to pedal off next weekend.
Team Coco, through Cuban-born cyclist Ivan Dominguez, dominated the event last year,to take away five of the top six positions after the riders had covered a distance of approximately 171.5 miles (274.3 km) over two days.
A jubilant Kumar said, “All systems are in place for this year’s event. We expect Team Coco, including the cyclists who are at present undergoing intense training in Colombia, to be part of the event once again, making it highly competitive.
“I have spoken to the people in both Berbice and Demerara, while the police in both counties have given me all assurance that this year’s event will be a successful one and if all goes well, even a faster one than last year’s.”
Dominguez completed last year’s event in a time of 6h.44mins:54secs, and was followed by Leonardo Martinez (6h.46mins:55secs), Frank Travieso (6h.46mins:59secs), Marlo Rodman (6h.47mins:06secs), Darren Matthews (6h.47mins:16secs) and Cueli Santos (6h.52mins:29secs), while in 1998, Godfrey Pollydore and Dwayne Gibbs left their mark on the event, recording a time of 6hrs.23m:26s.
With the exception of Rodman who represented Team Heatwave last year, all the other cyclists mentioned in the top six for last year’s event, are Dominguez’ teammates, with Guyana’s Raynauth Jeffrey finishing in seventh position, three seconds slower that Santos.
Kumar said a committee has been set up within the NSC to oversee the success of the event which pedals off on Saturday  May 18 with the first stage from Corriverton Police Station to New Amsterdam (46.6 miles).
On the same day, the cyclists will pedal off from the Rosignol Stelling and proceed to Carifesta Avenue for the finish, completing the second stage and in the process covering a distance of 60.4 miles, while the third and final stage occurs on the morning of Sunday May 19 and takes the cyclists from Kara Kara on the Linden highway, to Homestretch Avenue, a distance of 64.5 miles.
Cyclist of the calibre of Gibbs, Pollydore, Jeffrey, Alonso Greaves, Marlon ‘Fishy’ Williams, Warren ‘40’ McKay, Geron Williams, Albert Philander, Robin Persaud, Paul De Nobrega, Junior Niles and Walter Grant-Stuart, just to name a few, are expected to compete in this event.
Cyclists are reminded to register their names with their respective club or team manager for submission for this year’s event, while transportation will leave the NSC office at 12:00hrs on Friday, May 17 for Springlands.
All cyclists are requested to wear their club jerseys, numbers issued and licences before the start of the event, as without such requirements they cannot start or will not be allowed to compete in this year’s event.
Meanwhile, Kumar, using the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) as a perfect example queried the non-submission of a developmental plan from the Cheryl Thompson-steward Guyana Cycling Federation (GCF), and expressed his disappointment.
“We called on those sports associations in Guyana whose athletes are desirous of competing in not only the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil, but other international meets, to give us a developmental plan and to date none has come from the GCF and I am deeply disappointed.
“Yes both Ms. Thompson and Hector Edwards a former GCF president are members of the NSC and I have confidence in both of them, along with national cycling coach Hassan Mohamed, but that does not mean they must be delinquent in submitting their developmental plan to us,” said Kumar.
He added, “The GBA, jumped on the bandwagon and made their submissions to us, but none was received from the GCF, which has within its charge, good quality athletes. But having said that, I am working with Hassan and Hector along with Ms Thompson to get that problem rectified as soon as possible.”
Kumar reiterated his opinion on this year’s event being a faster one and with the cyclists having smoother roads at their disposal and hassle-free traffic to pedal through, thanks to the efforts of the Guyana Police Force traffic department, this year’s event can be a record-breaking one not only in participants, but overall timings.