GUYANA’s premier cyclists will do battle on Sunday when the Carlton Wheelers Cycle Club, in collaboration with the Ricks and Sari Agro Industries stages the 12th Annual Reagan Rodrigues Memorial 50-mile cycle road race in the West Demerara area.Defending champion Michael Anthony will have his work cut out this year as several United States-based cyclists, who have been performing creditably on the U.S. circuit, are currently in Guyana and are expected to face the starter, come Sunday.
Among the overseas-based riders are Raynauth `Obeah Man’ Jeffrey, Jamal John and Geron Williams and, apart from them, Anthony will also have to stave off the challenges of `Romello and Jevon Crawford and others, but his (Anthony) Team Evolution teammates Orville Hinds, Marlon `Fishy’ Williams and Raul Leal could and should ensure that he makes a successful defence of the title.
Anthony’s time for the event last year was one hour 56 minutes 35 seconds.
John won the junior category last year, while Junior Niles won the veterans Under-50 years category.
The mountain bike and ladies categories were won by Sean Budhram and Whitney Poyer respectively.
The race wheels off from outside the Wales Police Station, West Bank of Demerara at 08:00hrs and proceeds to Leonora before returning to Schoonord, just before the Demerara Harbour Bridge for the finish.
The top six overall finishers will be rewarded for their efforts as well as the first three juniors, the first three veterans, the first three mountain bikers and the first three females.
Eight prime prizes are on offer and members of the Rodrigues family will be there to present prizes to the respective winners.
Reagan Rodrigues who was born on February 21, 1948, died on August 4, 2004. He was a former cyclist and former president of the Guyana Cycle Federation and the Carlton Wheelers Cycle Club.
He was more known in the sporting fraternity as a race car driver and acquired several racing championship honours.