ON Sunday, riders from all across the country will line up at Schoonord, West Bank Demerara, to battle it out for the first stage of the coveted Cheddi Jagan memorial cycle road race.
The event is being hosted by Charlton Wheelers Cycle Club on the West Coast of Demerara.

This year’s competition will feature three stages: West Demerara, Berbice, and the Essequibo Coast, with riders in the seniors, Veterans Open, Veterans-Over 50, Category 4, Juniors and Mountain Bikes battling it out.

The organisers will award the top six seniors and top three in all the other categories.
The top open riders will pocket $22,000, with $12,000 for juniors and Category 4, $14,000 for veterans and $10,000 for mountain bike and veterans over 50.

Charlton Wheelers Cycle Club member Linden Dowridge says that he expects fireworks, with some of the seasoned riders set to compete.
“I expect heavy competition between Jamaul John, who seems not to be in the best of condition as yet, but is getting there and looking pretty good. We saw a remarkable performance from Marlon ‘Fishy’ Williams, a veteran on the comeback, and young Aaron Newton showing good promise, so we expect a ding-doing battle among the three and the others who intend to upset what was written on Sunday last.”

Last week at the Jude Bentley Memorial Road Race, Newton narrowly pipped the likes of John and Williams for the title.
Dowridge says the second and third leg of the competition will follow in the weeks after the first stage.

“We start at Schoonord at 08:30hrs on Sunday morning, proceed to Bushy Park and return to Schoonord for the finish. Next Sunday is the famous Babu Jaan event, which starts at the PPP/C headquarter in New Amsterdam, proceed to Corriverton, and return to Babu Jaan for the finish. And the following week, as committed by the party, we are looking forward to the leg which will be held in Essequibo.”

He said that the organisers have included the third stages this year, which the riders are enthused about.

“We have the first leg of the Jagan Memorial Cycle Event, which has been sponsored by the party stalwarts of the PPP/C party in memory of the two great presidents, and as you may know, both Jagans died in the month of March. Since then, every year, the executive arm of the party and some stalwarts have been sponsoring this event. So, this weekend, all systems are in place.”
Seniors, juniors, veterans open category will start at Schoonord and proceed to Bushy Park and return to Schoonord for the finish.

Veterans over 50 and mountain bike will start at Schoonord and proceed to Uitvlugt and return to Schoonord for the finish.

The three stages are sponsored by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C)