Guyana’s longest tenured cycling event is in a limbo.According to a source within the Guyana Cycling Federation (GCF), the future of the Independence Three-Stage road race which has been a fixture on the cycling calendar for more than three decades, is uncertain.
According to the source, with three days before Independence Day, the GCF is still awaiting a decision with regards to funding from the traditional sponsors, the National Sports Commission (NSC).
“We submitted a budget to the NSC last month but we are still awaiting word from them, we are waiting to see how much they can help to fund the race or even of the race is going to be staged.” The source added that “it is a new government with new rules,” but added that once there is definitive word from the NSC regarding the magnitude of their potential sponsorship, the GCF will decide whether or not they will need additional funding from other sponsors to stage the event.
A shade over a million dollars was presented as the budget to blanket the cost of expenses and prize money for the stage race.
The source stated that whenever the calendar flips to May, wheelsmen and cycling enthusiasts “look forward to this race and we want to keep the tradition alive.” The source concluded by saying that once funding is received, the race will pedal off as soon as possible.
Attempts to contact Director of Sport, Christopher Jones, proved futile.
