SEVERAL leading local and regional cyclists will be converging on Guyana from next Thursday, to battle for the top prize of US$1,000 (G$200,000) when the seventh annual Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Ministry of Sport and Guyana Cycling Federation ‘Ride for Life’ five-stage cycle road race is held.According to a press release which was sent from National Cycling Coach, Hassan Mohammed, the event which covers a distance of 266 miles (430km) will commence next Thursday 14th November with the first stage and culminate on Sunday 17th November with the final stage.
Next Thursday’s first stage, will see the cyclists pedaling off from the Corriverton Police Station at 0730 hrs and proceeding to Alexander Street in New Amsterdam, covering a distance of 46.6 miles or 75km.
The second stage takes place that same day from 1400 hrs, with the remaining riders who finish the first stage, riding from the Rosignol Stelling to Carifesta Avenue, a distance of 60.4 miles or 96 km, and the following morning, the third stage will see them going from Wales to Bushy Park, Parika, which is a 35 miles or 56 km journey that commences at 0800hrs.
They then proceed to Supenaam, where after a rest period, they will be back in their saddles early Saturday morning to compete on the longest stage for this event, a 67 mile or 107.5 km journey from Supenaam to Charity and back to Suddie for the finish.
The fifth and final leg takes place two Sundays from today and it is one that will cover a distance of 64.6 miles (103.3 km), starting at Kara Kara in Linden and proceeding to Homestretch Avenue for the finish, following which, the presentation of prizes will be done at either the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall or the National Cultural Centre.
Cyclists and officials are asked to note that transportation will leave the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, Main Street at 12:30h on Wednesday November 13 for Corriverton, after the usual pep talk from Minister of Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony.
Registration for cyclists closes two days before the departure for Springlands, which is Monday, November 11 (next Monday) with Mohamed at his Middle Street office during normal working hours.
Team Coco’s Florida Jaime Ramirez won last year’s event, covering the distance in a time of 9h. 46mins: 51secs, with Paul DeNobrega taking the top junior title having finished 10mins:10secs after Ramirez, while Kennard Lovell won the Veteran category in a time of 10h. 15mins:24secs.