By Emmerson Campbell
The nation’s top cyclists were urged to win this year’s Independence Three-Stage cycle road race by Minister of Sport Dr. Frank Anthony yesterday.
“One way we can demonstrate Independence is that we must be able to win the competition that is in honour of our independence,” Dr Anthony told the riders yesterday prior to their being sent off.
“I have heard that the time is very competitive but I know we have very strong local competitors and therefore I would like to urge the local cyclists to put their best effort forward and hopefully, we get a number of our local cyclists in the top spots.
“Let us go out and break records,” he exhorted.
Dr. Anthony was at the time addressing the cyclists at his Main Street office during a formal send off of the cyclist competing in this year’s 30th annual three-stage road race in observation of the 46th Independence anniversary celebrations.
The three-stage race, which will cover a total distance of 171.5 miles (274.3km), will pedal off this morning in Berbice and is expected to attract the crème de la crème of local riders from all the clubs in Guyana as well as overseas riders who will use the event as a warm-up for other races internationally.
Dr. Anthony stated that this year’s event marks a very significant milestone as it’s in its 30th year.
He added that there was a very strong local and international contingent of riders and, as such, he expected a high level of competition.
“This year we have 63 local and 21 overseas competitors, nine from Team CoCo who have been coming here for the last four years. We have another nine from Heat Wave from Trinidad and Tobago. We also have two from the US and one from Barbados (last year’s five-stage second runner up).
“We have a very strong international contingent and we have an even stronger local contingent so we expect that the competition will be very fierce and we have been saying to our local competitors to learn the techniques of riding as a team so that you can beat the foreign competition.
“Last year’s winner was from Team CoCo’s and we are hoping that we can change those results because this race is held in honour of our Independence celebration.”
Last year’s winner was Yosmani Pol of Team Coco from Miami, Florida, who won the event in six hours, 39 minutes and 34 seconds.
Dr Anthony added that his ministry was very pleased to partner with the Guyana Cycling Federation (GCF) with one of the signature events of the local cycling calendar and his ministry will continue to do so.
The minister also said that while he hopes the event is accident free, there will be persons providing health care along the routes as well as the Guyana Police Force to ensure that the cyclists are safe.
Permanent Secretary, Alfred King, national cycling coach, Hassan Mohamed and former president of the GCF, Hector Edwards, also made brief remarks.
The first stage will commence at 7:30hrs at the Corriverton Police Station and will finish at New Amsterdam. (46.6 Miles) (75km).
The second stage which also starts today will commence at 14:00hrs from Rosignol and will proceed to Carifesta Avenue, Georgetown for the finish. (60.4 Miles) (97.1km).
The final stage of the event will start tomorrow at 08:00hrs in Kara Kara, Linden and will conclude at Homestretch Avenue in Georgetown. (64.5 Miles) (103.3km).
