Cycling season ends with back-to-back races

Hassan Mohamed will bring the curtain down on his calendar of cycling events for the 2015 season this weekend with back-to-back races.

First up today, the cream of the nation’s wheelsmen will transform the inner circuit of the National Park into a speedway as they vie for trophies and primes in the fourth Payless Variety Store 11-race programme.

Set to roll off at 09:00hrs, the fixture is set to attract top cyclists like Alanzo Greaves, Marlon Williams, Orville Hinds, Paul DeNobrega, Raul Leal, Michael Anthony and Geron Williams who will be pedaling for the top honors in the feature 35-lap event.

Veteran rider, Junior Niles claimed the first prize in the third edition of the programme in one hour, 22 minutes and 34 seconds. However, Niles will be hard pressed to repeat if he does compete.

Other events that will roll off include the 12 to 14 years boys and girls (3 laps), veterans over-50 years (5 laps), veterans over-60 years (5 laps), upright cyclists (5 laps), BMX boys open (3 laps), BMX boys 12 to 14 years (3 laps), BMX boys 9 to 12 years (3 laps) and BMX boys 6 to 9 years (3 laps).

The Juveniles along with the Veterans Under-50 races are slated to be keenly contested.

Shameer Baksh (Veterans Under-50), Romello Crawford (Junior) and Seon Budhan (Mountain Bikes) were the top bikers in their categories last year.

Representatives of the sponsor will be on hand to assist with the presentation of prizes and trophies.

Tomorrow, the bikers will take their talents to the open road to compete in the Diamond Mineral Water 50-mile road race at West Demerara from 08:00hrs.

The event starts in front of Wales Police Station, proceeds to Bushy Park, Parika then returns to Schoonord (near the Demerara Harbour Bridge) for the finish. The veterans, uprights and female riders will turn back at the Uitvlugt ground on the upward journey and finish at Schoonord. This event is being sponsored by Demerara Distillers Limited for the 16th time.

Team Coco’s Hamza Eastman is the defending champion of the road race, having won the event in a brisk one hour, 59 minutes and 42 seconds.

Talim Shaw (Veteran), Ozia McAulay (Mountain Bike) and Ronella Samuels (Female) are the defending champions of the other categories. (Emmerson Campbell)