THE FOURTH Annual Payless Variety Store-sponsored 11-race cycle programme is set for tomorrow and will be held around the inner circuit of the National Park beginning at 09:00hrs.The programme, which is being coordinated by National cycle coach Hassan Mohamed, for yet another year will see schoolboys, novices and invitational cyclists compete for top honours in the feature 35-lap race.
It is expected that the race will attract most of Guyana’s top racing cyclists, including Team Gillette Evolution’s Orville Hinds, Marlon `Fishy’ Williams and Michael Anthony as well as Continental Wheelers’ Geron `The Lone Soldier’ Williams, Roraima Bikers’ Alanzo Greaves and Team Alanis’ Paul DeNobrega.
Last year’s winner of the event was veteran rider Junior Niles, who stopped the clock at one hour 22 minutes 34.96 seconds (1.22. 34.96).
There will also be a 10-lap event for juveniles with the defending champion being Romello Crawford of Berbice, who last year returned a time of 25.35:38. He will, however, get stiff competition from the likes of Crawford who is still a juvenile as well as Berbician Andrew Hicks, the `Most Outstanding Rider’ at last Sunday’s Flying Ace Cycle Club’s `Track Attack’, held in Berbice.
Shameer Baksh is the defending champion of the five-lap event for veterans Under-50 age group. Last year, Baksh returned 11 minutes 57 seconds, but this year he will have his work cut out with the likes of Eon `Dumb Boy’ Jackson, Linden Blackman, Jude Bentley and Kennard Lovell also set to face the starter.
Shawn Bodhram will try to defend the title he won last year when he clocked 13 minutes .06 seconds in the five-lap race for Mountain Bikers, while Rakena Blair of Berbice will have to be wary of her opposition if she is to retain her boys & girls 12-14 years three-lap title.
A representative of Payless Variety Store will be on hand to witness the day’s proceedings as well as make the presentation of prizes to the respective winners.