What is regarded as the most highly anticipated racing meet for the calendar year, the ‘Ride for Life’ Five-Stage racing meet will not be hosted this year rather it will be replaced by a Three-Stage race billed for November 5-6 inclusive of two races and one time trial.
The Five-Stage race, would have been entering its 10th year but a decision was made to reduce it to three stages this year due to reasons beyond control.
This event is a collaborative effort of the National Sports Commission, the Ministry of Health, Department of Culture Youth and Sport and the Guyana Cycling Federation.
While the race would previously include Berbice and Essequibo, this edition will only be hosted in Demerara.
The top riders will all be in preparation mode ahead of the biggest meet and it is expected that young Team Coco’s Hamza Eastman would be amongst the favourites in this year’s event.
Eastman would have recently won the 5th annual Kadir Mohamed Memorial Road Race with the top prize being an ‘Ounce of Gold’ and also the Hand-in-Hand 35-lap feature earlier in October.
However, stern competition is expected to come from team Evolution, Eastman’s team Cocos teammates Raynauth Jeffrey, Stephano Husbands, Continental Rider, Geron Williams and possibly the return of Alonzo Greaves, who will be eligible to return to racing after his ban expires come November 1.
Riders will be competing for a total of G$400,000, the riders will take to the roadways on Saturday at 7:00h to complete a 65 mile road race from Georgetown heading to Mahaicony where they would return to the starting point for a finish while completing an Individual time trial from Georgetown to Plaisance, a stretch of 3.5 miles from 15:00h later the same day.
The wheelsmen will then take to the Outer circuit of the National Park to compete in a 30-lap race beginning from 11:00h on November 6. The 30-lap race is equivalent of 70 miles.
The organizers wish to distinguish the event from the annual ‘Independence 3-Stage Road Race’
