Dear Editor,
All eyes will be on the National Sports Commission’s (NSC’s) 41st Independence Three-Stage Cycle Race. Now
an international three-stage cycle race, this activity would attract more than 50 national and international cyclists.
The race will start on Saturday morning as usual at the starting point in front of the police station at Corriverton in Region 6, then proceed to the finish line of the first stage in New Amsterdam, Region 6.
At 2pm on that same Saturday, the second leg of the race will start at Rosignol in Region 5, and proceed to the finishing point at Carifesta Avenue in Georgetown, Region 4.
The third and final stage will start on Sunday morning in front of the Call Centre at Kara Kara in Linden, Region 10, and finish at Homestretch Avenue in Georgetown. This highly-anticipated annual cycle race, a signature event on the National Sports Commission’s calendar, will be gruelling and exciting.
Significantly, this event began as an upright cycle race, and as the discipline of cycling developed, it graduated into an internationally recognized cycling event. The former National Cycling Coach Hassan Mohammed must be commended for his contribution to making this event a success.
This event was abandoned during the APNU/AFC’s five years in Government, but the PPP/C Government, with genuine efforts to further develop sport, made sure this event resumed happening.
There will be several categories of participants in the race. While the most Senior cyclists in the country and around the Caribbean would be riding for supremacy, an interesting and keen struggle is anticipated in the Juniors’ category. And while all eyes will be on some of the Veteran Over-50 and Under-50 riders, some attention should also be paid to the female riders, who are hereby encouraged to participate. Moreover, the participation of Juveniles in the first stage of this race is most welcome.
Last year’s winner, Phillip Clarke of Barbados, had a fiercely contested battle with Guyanese riders Romello Crawford and Curtis Dey; and the former winner of this three-stage race, the veteran Robin Persaud, was very impressive in finishing in fourth place. Alexander Leung, Emmanuel Gayral and Jorryn Simpson were the other top finishers.
This year, the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport has sponsored the race with a hefty three million dollars, along with transportation and other necessary assistance.
This highly-anticipated national/international race would be attracting thousands of spectators, who would line the road shoulders in Berbice and Demerara; while massive crowds at the finishing lines at New Amsterdam, Carifesta Avenue and Homestretch Avenue are expected to record their usual lively presence.
Sincerely,
Neil Kumar
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