In excess of 75 cyclists including five females will vie for supremacy when the 31st annual Independence Three-Stage Road Race pedals off today in Berbice.
The crème de le crème of the nation’s cyclists and 14 foreign riders from Antigua, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, the United States of America and Suriname will battle on the roads of the Ancient County, the city and the Mining Town of Linden over the course of the two-day, 171.5 -mile event which is in honour of Guyana’s Independence.
During his formal send off of the riders at his Main Street ministry, Sports Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony, told the local cyclists that one way of being independent was to win the event which has been dominated by foreigners as of recent.
“I want to wish everyone well and I hope that this will be a competitive race for the 47th Independence anniversary and one way we can show pride in our country is for a local rider to win this event,” said Anthony.
“We look forward to seeing the winners at the end and of course my usual call is to see the last years time equaled or faster.”
Last year’s winner was Ivan Dominguez of the Miami, Florida-based Team Coco’s who completed the event in six hours, 44 minutes and 54 seconds.
In 2011, Yosmani Pol also of Team Coco took the top honours in six hours, 39 minutes and 34 seconds.
The local cyclists including US-based Aubrey Gordon, is expected to face stiff opposition primarily from the Trinidad and Tobago’s Heat Wave team made up of Marlo Rodman, Alain Smartt, Jason Perryman and Jamol Eastman. The 19-year old, Barbadian, Eastman placed third in the annual five-stage event two years ago.
Guyana’s hopes rest on the pedals of standout national cyclists, Geron Williams, Alonzo Greaves who the experienced Robin Persaud, Warren ‘40’ McKay, Raymond Newton, Marlon ‘ Fishy’ Williams, Jude Bentley and Eric Sankar.
Williams who won the five-stage event in 2009 recently returned from a training and competition stint in New York and Pennsylvania while Greaves who won the three-stage race that same year has been on an impressive tear.
The inform Greaves has already sprinted to eight signature victories for the season.
The local Team Coco’s Club made up of Junior Sportsman of the Year, Paul DeNobrega and his fellow national riders Raynauth Jeffrey, Raul Leal and Chris Holder who returned on Tuesday from a 30-day stint in the high altitude country of Colombia will also look to keep the champion’s trophy in the ‘Land of Many Waters’.
Top veteran, Junior Niles and Barbados’ Brandon Wilke will also ride for the Coco’s club.
At the send off, Permanent Secretary, Alfred King, national cycling coach, Hassan Mohamed and president of the GCF, Cheryl Thompson 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, pedals off 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)
