Junior national cyclist Neil Reece is preparing to represent Guyana at the Beacon Cycling Festival in Trinidad and Tobago from April 15-25.
The 19-year-old Berbician is currently Guyana’s junior champion and also Berbice’s junior champion.
He will be making his fifth appearance at the cycling festival since his first two trips in 2007 when he copped gold, silver and two bronze medals on both occasions as he competed against cyclist from all over the world in what was one of the biggest cycling events in the Caribbean.
Reece repeated his spectacular 2007 performance in 2008 when he attained gold, silver and bronze medals.
Competing in the juvenile category of the festival last year he came away with a gold and silver medal.
The year 2010 will greet Reece with tougher competition because he is now old enough as of January to compete in the more difficult junior category at the Cycling Festival.
In light of this, Reece has been training hard and participating in as many local cycling events as possible preparation.
Contacted via telephone his coach Randolph Roberts told Stabroek Sport:“The competition is stiffer in the junior category and we have been working hard towards getting another gold medal and we are looking forward to that.”
Reece was also contacted via telephone and said “Competing in Trinidad is more difficult because Guyana doesn’t have a cycling track like the ones used at the Cycling Festival to practice on so its takes time to get settled in, but I am prepared.”
The young cyclist trains six days a week and, as a result, he has been unbeatable in the junior category of all the cycling events held in Guyana.
He told this newspaper that he is looking to carry his winning form over to Trinidad so as to be successful once again.
Reece has been supported by generous sponsorship over the past three years from A. Ally and Son’s General Store of New Amsterdam who recently provided him with a new track bike valued $300,000 and cycling apparel valued $100,000.
Reece, accompanied by his coach, Roberts, will depart Guyana for Trinidad and Tobago on April 13 with hopes of returning with gold medals from the Cycling Festival.
