The long-awaited resurfacing of the National Park circuit is closer to becoming a reality after inspections were done by contractors tasked with undertaking the project and national cycling coach Hassan Mohamed at the venue yesterday morning.
The project is being done through the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport and will begin on Monday. Mohamed, who stages the majority of the cycle races on his cycling calendar at the National Park, has been advocating the resurfacing of the facility for quite some time.
Speaking to Stabroek Sport yesterday, Mohamed expressed his satisfaction with the decision to commence the project, stating that it will be beneficial to all cyclists who utilize the National Park circuit.
“I negotiated long for it… over 15 years I have been asking for it [the circuit] to be resurfaced,” said Mohamed.
“It’s a dream come true after a long period of time. With the support of the minister and director of sport this dream came true,” Mohamed added.
Mohamed stated that he has also been “clamouring for a cycling track [velodrome – an oval banked track]”, but he will be making use of what is available until a velodrome is constructed.
According to Mohamed the National Park circuit has been utilized by him for cycling since 1977, with the first national cyclist coming out of his programme there being current President of the Guyana Cycling Federation, Hector Edwards.
He stated that over the years, from 1977 to now, a lot of repairs and patch work had been done to the circuit, but it has reached a stage where the entire circuit has to be resurfaced and he is pleased this is finally being done.
“The resurfacing is going to be a tremendous benefit, because all the years I have been producing right at the park and now that it is being resurfaced I will produce more and the athletes will improve more.”
“The riders will get more speed and be able to concentrate more because they won’t have think about safety that much now. They will be more focused on participating in the race,” said Mohamed.
Also speaking to Stabroek Sport yesterday, Director of Sport Neil Kumar said that the resurfacing of the circuit will not only be beneficial to cyclists but everyone who uses the National Park including members of the public who exercise there during the day.
“We are resurfacing the entire circuit and it will be done at a very high standard, which is going to benefit the walkers, runners and everyone who use the Park,” said Kumar.
