JUDGING from the form shown by some of the country’s elite and upcoming cyclists in recent times, defending champion Robin Persaud of Carlton Wheelers Cycle Club (CWCC), will be hard-pressed to retain the Banks Malts Non-Alcoholic 50-mile cycle road race, when the third edition pedals off this Sunday morning.The race, which is being organised by national cycling coach Hassan Mohamed, with Persaud taking last year’s edition in a time of 1h.52mins:01secs, will see all competing cyclists pedal off from the

Wales Police Station at 08:00hrs.

The senior and junior riders will proceed to Bushy Park on the East Bank of Essequibo, where they will turn back and make their way to the village of Schoonord, just before the Demerara Harbour Bridge for the finish.
All veterans, upright and female cyclists will pedal off from the point of origin, proceed to Uitvlugt and head back to the same finishing point as was designated for the senior and junior riders.
In the senior category, Persaud is expected to face stern competition from Raynauth Jeffrey, Alanzo Greaves, Warren ‘40’ McKay, Marlon ‘Fishy’ Williams, brothers Orville and Delroy Hinds, Albert Philander, Paul De Nobrega, Albert Philander and Christopher Holder, just to name a few.
There is also the fast-improving Hamza Eastman and Alonso Ambrose, along with Michael Anthony, who will also be doing battle for supremacy in the Junior category, which will see a new champion being crowned, following the ineligibility of the defending champion Raul Leal, who is recovering from a vehicular accident he sustained earlier this year while training.
Talim Shaw is the defending champion in the Veterans division, but should Junior Niles, Stephen Fernandes, Kennard Lovell and Linden Blackman enjoy a great day in the saddle then his work will be cut out for him.
Naomi Singh is the female champion and although there are not many female riders competing on the local circuit, she can also expect a stern test from Hazina Bharat, who has always been her nemesis in recent times, and young Toshawna Doris.
The first six finishers will receive prizes along with the first three in the Juniors, Veterans, Mountain Bikers and Female categories while a special prize will be issued to the first Over-60 cyclist to complete the course which will also have eight prime prizes up for grabs.
The annual event is sponsored by Banks DIH’s Banks Malts Non-Alcoholic and that Company’s Outdoor Event Manager Mortimer Stewart, along with Clayton McKenzie who will assist with the distribution of prizes to the winners.