Hassan Mohamed: the father of cycling in Guyana

Rarely can it be said that someone who has become involved in a particular sporting discipline has catapulted that particular sport into the arena of glory, but National Cycling Coach Hassan Mohamed is one such individual. Having become involved in the sport of cycling when that activity was in the doldrums, Mohamed has almost single-handedly piloted cycling from its nadir to its zenith, where it shares pride of place with the most attractive sporting disciplines in the country, and Guyanese can hold their heads high and be proud of where the sport is at this point in time.
Mohamed has always kept himself from becoming involved in negative and conflicting exchanges that have, from time to time, descended on the activities of the Guyana Cycling Federation, and remains married to the sport even after some five decades of dedicated service to cycling.
The 71-year-old veteran still manages to find sponsors for his organised cycling meets, which are held almost every weekend, either in the National Park or on the roads of this beautiful country; and he is truly the most respected man in the entire cycling fraternity.
Mohammed’s efforts have not been short of rewards, though he merely enjoys the joy of seeing young cyclists excel. In 1990, he was bestowed the Medal of Service by the then President, Hugh Desmond Hoyte, for his sterling contributions to cycling development and his dedicated service to Guyana.
Mohamed was also able to land a three-month scholarship in Rome, Italy from the Guyana Olympic Association back in 1975, under the Presidency of Sir Lionel Luckhoo. He earned a Diploma from the International Cycling Union (UCI), IOC Certificate (Perfected and Specialization Cycling) and the Scoula Central Dello Certificate (Physical Education).
On his return from Italy, President Burnham appointed Mohamed National Cycling Coach attached to the National Sports Commission (NSC) on August 1, 1975. In 1991 and 1996, he was named runner-up coach of the year by the National Sports Commission. This is quite a record for a man who served under the leadership of 15 Directors of Sport!

Having started out as a young wheelsman back in 1958, Mohammed undoubtedly dedicated his entire life to the sport of cycling. He decided to call it quits on a career in riding in 1972, but has remained loyal to the sport, becoming a coach and organizer. The veteran has, for over forty years, been responsible for numerous young riders going into the National Park during the summer vacation each year and learning to ride. Some of them have even emerged as champion riders.
It was Mohammed who introduced circuit racing to this dear land of ours. Before his innovative thinking, riders were exposed only to stories of the developed world and the facilities available, such as a velodrome. Thinking cleverly, the cycling coach decided that the National Park’s inner circuit would be an appropriate track for the riders to use. And so it became one of the most used facilities for cycling in the country, all thanks to Hassan Mohammed!
Mohammed has not only led the cyclists locally, but has managed them on tours across the Caribbean and North and Central America. Consequently, we see the efforts of this astonishing son of the soil half a century later.
Currently, the state of competition in the country has reached its highest intensity in recent memory. It is now normal for at least six riders to compete for the top spot at any given time, and in almost every race, there is someone new surprising the pack. But these speedsters could not have developed their game without a steady influx of competitions.
We see the development of riders from not only Demerara, but Essequibo and Berbice as well; all doing well, certainly building on the legacy Mohammed has set.
In cycling circles, the name Hassan Mohammed has to be mentioned, and never in a negative way. It is very difficult to imagine where the sport of cycling would have been had it not been for the hard work and dedication of a man who has devoted his entire life to see development of the sport he so loves and desires to have benefit others.