KEEN competition is anticipated at this year’s Guyana Cycling Federation’s (GCF) national Championships which is fixed for this Saturday and Sunday.The championships which will see the local riders competing for honours in the time trial as well as the road race aspects will be used by Marlon `Fishy’ Williams, Raynauth Jeffrey and Scott Savory as a warm up for the

Commonwealth Games which will be held in Glasgow, Scotland from July 23 to August 3.
Three other cyclists – Geron Williams, Alonzo Greaves and Claire Fraser-Green are also part of the Guyana team for the Commonwealth Games, but they are currently overseas preparing and competing.
Williams and Greaves are in the United States while Fraser-Green is based in the United Kingdom.
Both the time trial and road race will be contested among senior, juniors, juveniles, veterans under 45 years of age and over 45 years, as well as female cyclists.
The time trial which will be held on Saturday will wheel off from Long Creek on the Linden Highway and proceed to Loo Creek before returning to the place of origin for the finish.
The road race which be held on Sunday will pedal off from Homestretch Avenue in Georgetown.
However, only the seniors will pedal to Kairuni Creek on the Soesdyke – Linden Highway before returning to finish at the place of origin – a distance of 100 miles.
The juniors, on the other hand, will turn back at the police outpost (Hauraruni) on the highway, which is a distance of 60 miles.
The veterans and the females will turn back at Kuru Kuru, while the juveniles will turn back at Coverden and all will finish at the place of origin.
Jeffrey won both the time trial and road races last year, returning three hours, 48 minutes 40.71 seconds for the road race, which was over a distance of 90 miles. Greaves placed second and Warren McKay third.
Michael Anthony ruled the roost in the junior category by winning both the time trial and road race, clocking two hours, 59 minutes 36 seconds for the road race.
Second in this category was Shaquille Agard and third was Hamzah Eastman.
Naiomi Singh was first among the females, while Hazina Barrett placed second and Fraser-Green who won the event in 2012, third.
The veterans’ over-45 category was won by Ian Jackson, Raymond Newton placed second and Gary Benjamin third.
Junior Niles won the veterans under-45 category ahead of Ralph Williams and Sybourne Fernandes respectively.

(By Michael DaSilva)