Two big cycling races on this weekend

Cyclists are in for a hectic weekend as two cycling events are scheduled to pedal off tomorrow and Sunday.

Tomorrow, Assuria Insurance Company is sponsoring its first cycling event; an 11-race programme at the inner circuit of the National Park.

The feature race is the 35-lap School Boys and Invitational which will be contested by the top junior and senior riders. Other races carded for the day include the BMX age group categories, veterans, uprights and mountain bikes.

Paul DeNobrega crosses the finish line
Paul DeNobrega crosses the finish line

Representatives from the company including assistant general manager, Yogindra Arjune, will be on hand to assist in the presentation of prizes at the conclusion of programme.

On Sunday, the riders will take their talents to the open road to compete in the Fifth Annual Cheddi Jagan Memorial 50-mile Road Race on the West Demerara.

The race starts at Wales, proceeds to Bushy Park, Parika then heads to the Demerara Harbour Bridge for the finish.

The veterans, uprights and female riders will turn at the Uitvlugt ground on the upward journey and finish at the Harbour Bridge. This event is being sponsored by Krishna Samlall, a businessman from Parika.

Both events will commence at 9am.

Paul DeNobrega is the defending champion of the senior race, having won last year’s race in one hour, 59 minutes, 24 seconds. DeNobrega, the Junior Sportsman of the Year, also won the junior category last year, but he has since graduated to the senior level, making way for a new champion to be crowned this year.

Talim Shaw (Veterans Open), Dexter Wilson (Upright), Naomi Singh (Female) and Walter Isaacs (Veterans Over-60) are the defending champions of the other categories.