OVER 50 local cyclists have inked their names to participate in this year’s Golden Jubilee three-stage cycle road race set for this weekend.According to one of the organisers, the registration which should have closed on Monday was extended to facilitate some local cyclists who are currently based overseas, as well as three foreign teams who have expressed their desire to be a part of the activity.
The organiser said because the committee wants to have maximum participation, they decided to extend the registration period to accommodate them.
However, today at 11:00hrs, Director of Sport Christopher Jones is expected to meet with the cyclists at his Homestretch Avenue office and send them off.
The three-stage event will get underway at 08:00hrs tomorrow from outside the Corriverton Police Station, Berbice, after which the cyclists will journey to Main and Alexander Streets, New Amsterdam, Berbice for the completion of the first stage.
From 14:00hrs tomorrow, they will be sent on their way for the second stage from the Rosignol Ferry Stelling and will journey to Carifesta Avenue, Georgetown for the finish.
On Sunday, the third stage will start at 08:00hrs from Kara Kara, Linden Highway and proceed to Homestretch Avenue for the finish.
The defending champion is Team Evolution’s Orville Hinds who covered the overall distance (171.4 miles) in a time of six hours 52 minutes 26 seconds.
Team Evolution are expected to dictate the event once again this year as their riders have been dominating the local scene for the past few months with Hinds being the most dominant of them.
In last year’s event, Hinds placed fourth in the first stage, second in the second stage and third in the final stage which ended on Carifesta Avenue for the first time in the race’s history, as floods last year had caused the Homestretch Avenue to be impassable.
The event is being coordinated by national cycle coach Hassan Mohamed.