26th Annual Independence Three-Stage Cycle Race

FORMER Kaieteur Cycle Club team mates Dwayne ‘Road Hog’ Gibbs and Godfrey Pollydore are favoured to occupy the top two places in this year’s 26th edition of the National Sports Commission (NSC) sponsored Three Stage Cycle Road Race which wheels off on Saturday.

Gibbs who is currently based in Anguilla and Pollydore who has taken up residence in Antigua, arrived in Guyana on Monday and has since been doing some serious speed work along the East Coast Demerara roadway.

The duo is reported to be in fine form and only Sunday last, they won separate races in Antigua and Anguilla.

Pollydore crossed the finish line ahead of Gibbs in a road race in Antigua on Sunday afternoon, a few hours after Gibbs won a similar race in Anguilla, before journeying to Antigua by boat for the afternoon’s activity.

In the 26-year history of the Hassan Mohamed organized event which gets underway at 7:30h from outside the Corriverton Police Station, Berbice, Gibbs has claimed the top spot on six occasions (1999-2002 and 2005 and 2006) and will be seeking to make it his seventh this time around.

Pollydore on the other hand was the winner in 1998.

That year (1998), Pollydore and Gibbs broke the previous record, but the former was declared champion, as he won more stages than Gibbs.

Among the other local riders that will be seeking a name for themselves are; Anguilla based Lindener Andrew Reece who won the event in 2003, Trinidad based Marlon ‘Fishy’ Williams and now Trinidad citizen Steven Mangru and Anguilla based Albert Philander.

The Guyanese born cyclists are however expected to get keen competition from a number of foreign riders including the 2007 champion, Trinidad and Tobago’s Guy Costa who will be riding under the Heat Wave banner.

Other locally based Guyanese who will be seeking to make an impression in their various categories includes the in form Alonzo Greaves, Christopher Holder, Warren McKay, Leer Nunes, John Charles, Jude Bentley, Junior Niles, Enzo Matthews, Compton Persaud, Aubrey Greavesande, Linden Blackman, Ian ‘Dumb Boy’ Jackson, Kennard Lovell and Virgil Jones.

When the now keenly anticipated competition was first initiated, upright cyclist Jaipaul Mohabeer won it. However, over the following years, the locals started to equip themselves with racing cycles and so the second year it was won by former national champion Errol McLean.

Since then, many others have claimed the coveted title, but it was only last year that a foreigner (Guy Costa) claimed the top prize.

In the 2004 edition, Mangru was crowned champion.

After winning the event in 2006, Gibbs showered praises on ‘Fishy’ Williams, stating that he (Gibbs) would return in 2007 to ride for him (Williams).

This was however not to be, as the Colombian trained (Gibbs) rider fell ill, allowing Costa to claim the title.

He (Costa) however did not do this single handedly, as he had his Heat Wave team mates from Trinidad, including ‘Fishy’ Williams riding domestically for him.

Costa and his team will however not have it easy this time around, as the word on the street as other teams are expected from Anguilla, Antigua, French Guiana, St. Marteen and Suriname.

Stage one of the gruelling 169-mile event ends at Alexander and Main Streets, New Amsterdam, Berbice, a distance of 46.6 miles.

Stage two commences at 14:30h on Saturday also from the Rosignol Ferry Stelling, West Bank Berbice and ends at Carifesta Avenue, a distance of 60.4 miles.

The final stage wheels off from Kara Kara, Linden Highway at 8:00h on Sunday and concludes on Homestretch Avenue.

Meanwhile, cyclists who are in need of transportation to get to Berbice for the start of the event must be present at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, Quamina and Main Streets by 9:30h tomorrow.