WHEN national cycle coach Hassan Mohamed stages the Banks DIH-sponsored 11-race cycle programme around the inner circuit of the National Park, under its Powerade brand, the cream of the country’s cyclists will definitely be using the event as a warm-up for the Golden Jubilee Three-Stage road race scheduled for next weekend.Today’s programme will get underway at 09:00hrs, but the feature event – a 35-lap race for schoolboys, novices and invitational riders – is expected to start at 11:30hrs.
Last year’s winner of the event was Michael Anthony of Team Evolution who stopped the clock at one hour 15 minutes .03 seconds.
This time around, however, Anthony will have to be wary of Berbice cyclists Romelo Crawford and his cousin Jeban Crawford as well as Jamal John and Shaquel Agard, among others.
The Team Evolution cyclist is expected to be shielded by his teammates Orville Hinds, Marlon `Fishy’ Williams and Raul Leal, all of whom have been in good nick since the 2016 cycling season began.
The team have dominated both National Park programmes as well as road races to the extent that Hinds currently leads the point standings of the Guyana Cycling News with 96 points. Hinds’ teammates Williams, Leal and Anthony placed second, third and fourth with 80, 70 and 49 points respectively.
Agard (Linden Bauxite Flyers) and Team Alanis’ Paul DeNobrega are fifth and sixth with 45 and 35 points respectively.
Another interesting race will be the 10-lap race for Juveniles which was won last year by Jamal John in a time of 23 minutes 57.56 seconds. He is expected to stave off his challengers.
Junior Niles is the defending champion of the veterans’ Under-50 years five-lap race which he won last year in 11 minutes 56 seconds. He too is expected to make a successful defence of his title. The only other cyclists likely to give him a run for his `money are Warren McKay and Kennard Lovell.
Daniel Perreira will be out to defend his three-lap race for boys and girls 12-14 years old. Last year, Perreira won the event in seven minutes 56 seconds.
Banks DIH Outdoor Manager Mortimer Stewart is expected to witness the day’s activity as well as to assist with the presentation of prizes to the respective winners.