Following a packed schedule of races last month, national cycling coach Hassan Mohamed is continuing the trend with the 14th annual 55 miles cycle road race on Sunday in Berbice.
The race will commence from Freedom House, New Amsterdam at 09:00 hours, proceed to No. 55 Village on the Corentyne and return to Port Mourant for the finish.
This is the first race for the year Mohamed has organized in the ancient county after rolling off the cycling season in Demerara with a number of races.
The meet, which is sponsored by BK International Inc., is scheduled to feature races in the Senior, Juniors, Veterans, Upright and Ladies categories. The Veterans, Upright and
Ladies will not cover the full 55-mile distance of the race, but will turn back at Hogstyle on the Corentyne and return to the finishing point at Port Mourant. The first six finishers in the senior category will receive prizes, while the first three cyclists in the Junior, Veteran and Upright categories will also receive prizes. Eight prime prizes are also up for the taking during the course of the race.
Meanwhile, special prizes will be awarded to the first two ladies, first Veteran over–60 years and the oldest cyclist to finish.
The majority of the country’s top cyclists are expected to contest the event, including Alonzo Greaves, who won the event’s senior category last year in a time of two hours, 29 minutes and 20 seconds (2:29:20).
Last year’s junior winner, Berbice’s top junior cyclist Neil Reece is also expected to at the starting line to defend his title, but he is likely to face stiff competition from juniors Paul DeNobrega, Kurt Larose and rising junior rider, Ramnauth Jeffrey.
Other winners of last year’s race meet are expected to be on show in the hunt for a consecutive title – Veteran winner, Junior Niles, winner of the upright race, Marlon King and Berbice’s Marica Dick, who won the ladies category. Transportation for cyclists and officials will be available and leaves on Sunday from the National Sports Commission Office, Middle Street at 05:00 hours.
