SUNDAY’S 50-mile cycle road race which is being sponsored by beverage giant Banks DIH Limited, under its PowerAde brand, promises to be a scorcher as most of the country’s top cyclists are currently firing on all cylinders and predicting a winner is a very tough task.

Since the 2015 cycling season started in January of this year, several cyclists have chalked up victories both on the road and in the National Park. Among them are Marlon `Fishy’ Williams, Orville Hinds, Hamzah Eastman, Michael Anthony, Akeem Arthur and Paul DeNobrega.
Williams, who opened the 2015 season on a winning note, failed to make a podium spot in four other starts, but last Saturday in a National Park’s 35-lap race he showed that he is coming back to form and is definitely one to watch.
His Team Evolution teammates Hinds and Anthony shared the spoils in about four other races on the road and should they ride as a unit, together with other team members Raul Leal and Akeem Wilkinson, there is no reason why the team cannot come out on top, but who will be the main man or the domestic will only be known on Sunday.
Then there are Team Coco’s with Raynauth Jeffrey, Junior Niles and DeNobrega among others who are a formidable unit and will be hard to beat once they ride as a team.
The surprise, however, might just come from Team Roraima’s Alanzo Greaves who has been coming into his own over the past two months.
The event, which is the fourth annual one will be staged in the West Demerara area and is being organised by national cycle coach Hassan Mohamed, will wheel off from outside the Wales Police Station at 08:00hrs, from where the senior and junior cyclists will journey to Bushy Park, East Bank Essequibo before returning to finish at Schoon Ord, near the Demerara Harbour Bridge for the finish.
The veterans, ladies and mountain bikers will turn back at Uitvlugt, West Coast Demerara and finish at Schoon Ord also.
The top six finishers overall, as well as the first three veterans, the first three mountain bikers and the first three ladies will receive trophies and cash prizes.
Eight prime prizes will also be up for grabs during the event.
Hinds is the defending champion in the Open category. Last year, he returned one hour 56 minutes 55 seconds to win the race. Michael Anthony won the junior category last year, while Talim Shaw and Oziah McAully won the veterans and mountain bikers’ categories respectively.
Banks DIH’s Brand and Outdoor Manager Gavin Jodhan will assist with the presentation of prizes to the respective winners.