TEAM EVOLUTION’S Orville Hinds is set to make a successful defence of the feature 35-lap cycle race he won last year when national cycle coach Hassan Mohamed runs off the 10th Annual Diamond Mineral Water-sponsored 11-race cycle meet around the inner circuit of the National Park on Saturday from 09:00hrs.Hinds, who won the event last year in a time of 1h.14mins 05.38 secs is still basking from his glory of winning the second stage of the 18th annual Dr Cheddi Jagan Memorial cycle road race in Berbice last Sunday and is expected to take that form into Saturday’s event.

It is anticipated that he will get valuable support from his team mates Marlon `Fishy’ Williams, Michael Anthony and Stephen Fernandes and, having won two races for the year, Hinds will be looking to chalk up his third, but will have to be wary of Raynauth Jeffrey, Paul DeNobrega and Romello Crawford, all of whom have been performing outstandingly since the season began in January.
Anthony, who won the 10-lap event for juveniles last year with a time of 24 mins .01 secs is no longer a juvenile, so that category is open for the crowning of a new champion on Saturday.
Junior Niles returned 15 minutes last year in winning the five-lap race for veterans under 50 years of age and will be determined to make a successful defence of that title but will be hard-pressed by Eon Jackson and Kennard Lovell.
Christopher Griffith and Oziah McAulay are the defending champions of the Boys’ and Girls’ 12-14 years five-lap event and the Mountain Bikers’ five-lap event respectively.
Griffith recorded 13 mins .07 secs for the 12-14 race while McAulay registered 13 mins .01 secs.
A representative of DDL is expected to witness the day’s proceedings as well as assist in presenting the prizes to the respective winners.