The Guyana Cycling Federation (GCF) is anxiously awaiting word from Sports Minister, Charles Ramson Jr., after presenting him with a detailed proposal on Wednesday for the safe return of competitive cycling.
This is according to Racing Secretary of the GCF, Malcolm Sonoram.
Sonoram told Stabroek Sport yesterday that he was the one tasked with preparing a proposal detailing how cycling can roll off once again in a safe manner for the riders and officials.
The Racing Secretary revealed that he researched and included the guidelines installed by the sports’ world governing body, Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) as part of the proposal that was presented.
According to Sonoram, the proposal, which was presented Ramson Jr., will be forwarded to the COVID-19 Task Force and once approval is granted “We should be able to put together a race in two to three weeks, so we are anxiously awaiting a response.”
Sonoram pointed out that Time Trial competitions will be the perfect platform to restart cycling on the local circuit since it will kick start the competitive juices of the riders while adhering to the COVID-19 restrictions which have begun to be relaxed.
Time trials are commonly referred to as the ‘race of truth’ as they require considerable mental concentration and toughness as well as the ability to tolerate intense physical discomfort.
However, cyclists compete individually and against only one competitor — the timing clock.
As the COVID-19 restrictions become more relaxed, the GCF Racing Secretary also revealed that he will be pushing to have as much races in the National Park “to keep the sport alive.”
He also mentioned that the Independence Three-Stage race which was last staged in 2016, will return in May 2021 perhaps with another stage added to make it a four-stage event.
As of recent, a growing chorus of calls have been made to the Ministry of Sport underlining the need for the scaled return of sports, the reopening the gyms, fitness centres and sports facilities.
Sonoram concluded by appealing to cyclists to continue to take every precaution before, during and after training as a means of keeping the novel virus at wheel’s length. To date, no local cyclists have tested positive for COVID-19. (Emmerson Campbell)
