Fittest will survive as 3rd annual Ride for Life pedals off today in Berbice

Nov 05, 2009 Sports

Stages and overall record threatened

By Franklin Wilson
in Berbice
Over 60 starters will face the line today for the commencement of what will be the biggest and most exciting annual 5-stage cycling race in Guyana, a race that touches all three Counties covering an approximate 226 miles (365KM).
What makes this 3rd annual event interesting, which is sponsored by the Ministry of Health and used to sensitise persons about the dreaded epidemic HIV AIDS, is the fact that the roads are way improved which lends itself to the possibility of all the stage records and overall record being broken.
That challenge was thrown out to the cyclists before they departed for Berbice yesterday by the Minister of Culture Youth & Sport Dr. Frank Anthony at his Main and Quamina Streets Office. Dr. Anthony, one of the pioneers behind this event which has now become the premier race on the Guyana Cycling Federations Calendar, said he is pleased with the number of riders participating as well as the overseas representation noting that the organizing committee is aiming for even more Caribbean participation in the ensuing years.
“This race had a lot of skeptics at the beginning who questioned if it would have lasted this long, but it has. I can assure you that funding has been secured for this event through the Ministry of Health until the year 2015.”
This marquee event Dr. Anthony said has set the standards for all other races in Guyana and they will continue to lift the bar.
Also speaking at yesterday’s brief send off ceremony were MCY&S Permanent Secretary Alfred King, Director of Sport Neil Kumar and President of the Guyana Cycling Federation Cheryl Thompson.
Defending overall champion Junior Niles will have to ride the race of his life if he is to retain the top spot as riders from Suriname , USA , Jamaica , Barbados , Anguilla and St. Maarten will also be in contention, the biggest international field so far in the history of the race.
Niles’ winning time for the event is 10 hours 38 minutes 13 seconds and this record is under threat. The riders who journeyed to the Ancient County yesterday afternoon were all relishing the opportunity of riding on the smooth Berbice roadway.
Second and third place finishers Alonzo Greaves and Tony Simon along with Warren Mc Kay, Robin Persaud, Marlon ‘Fishy’ Williams; Anguilla based Godfrey Pollydore, Dwayne ‘Road Hog’ Gibbs; Jamaican’s Willis Powel and Marloe Rodman; Barbados’ Sedwin Jones, Dominic Chanderbhan, Mario Forde and Simon Clarke along with the Berbice crew headlined by the promising Neil Reece, Winston Thomas, Wasim Hasnoo and USA based Raj Seepersaud will all fancy their chances of being on the podium come Sunday.
Villagers along the route in Berbice and New Amsterdam are expected to be out by the hundreds to cheer the riders on.
The first stage (46.6 miles – 75KM) is set to pedal off at Corriverton at 09:00hrs today to finish in New Amsterdam. Last year’s first stage winner was Robin Persaud in 1 hour 49 minutes 10.24 seconds.
The second stage will also be contested today, starting at 14:00hrs from the Rosignol Stelling, proceeding to Carifesta Avenue for the end. Alonzo Greaves in a time of 2 hours 32 minutes 05 seconds took the 60.4 miles (96KM) stage in 2008.
Stage three is set for tomorrow on the West Demerara, moving off from the Wales Police Station West Bank to end at Bushy Park on the East Bank of Essequibo.
With the fact that all the stages last year were faster than 2007, 2009 is well set to be even better than 2008.

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Fittest will survive as 3rd annual Ride for Life pedals off today in Berbice

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