THE 11th Annual Diamond Mineral Water 11-race cycle programme is billed for Saturday around the inner circuit of the National Park beginning at 09:00hrs.The event, which is being organised by national cycle coach Hassan Mohamed, will see the School Boys and Novices battle for top honours in the feature 35-lap event, with defending champion Jebon Crawford of Trojan Cycle Club of Berbice seeking to make a successful defence of his title.
At last year’s event, Crawford returned one hour 17 minutes 10 seconds in winning the race, but this time around, he will have to be wary of Team Evolution’s trio of Orville Hinds, Marlon `Fishy’ Williams and Raul Leal who are all in form at the moment.
On Sunday, Williams won the first stage of the late Dr Cheddi Jagan 19th memorial anniversary race, which was held in Berbice and which will continue on Sunday with a 50-mile event in the West Demerara area.
Team Evolution has been firing on all cylinders since the 2016 season got underway in January and it seems that with the absence of Team Coco’s from competitive riding since last November, the formative Team Evolution will continue to dominate.
In the juvenile 10-lap race on Saturday, Jamal John, who has been in good nick since the 2016 season started, should be able to make a successful defence of his title which he won last year in a time of 23 minutes 08.05 seconds.
Junior Niles won the five-lap race for veterans Under-50 age group in a time of 12 minutes 14.90 seconds and will be looking to make a successful defence of that title but will have to be wary of Kennard Lovell and Warren McKay.
Brighton John won the Boys and Girls 12-14 years three-lap race in a time of seven minutes 20.15 seconds and will be hoping to repeat that feat this year.
Shawn Boodhram is the defending champion of the five-lap race for mountain bikers.
Marketing representative of Demerara Distillers Limited, Larry Milles, is expected to witness the day’s activity as well as assist with the presentation of prizes to the respective winners.