‘Ride for Life 6’ billed for October 10-14

By Avenash Ramzan

After a meeting involving the relevant stakeholders on Wednesday afternoon, it was decided that the sixth edition of ‘Ride for Life’ Five-Stage cycling event will be staged on October 10-14, covering a distance of 226 miles of the country’s roadways.

Guyana’s Sport Minister Dr. Frank Anthony, Permanent Secretary of the Sport Ministry Alfred King, Guyana Cycling Federation president Cheryl Thompson, Director of Sport Neil Kumar, national cycling coach Hassan Mohamed and National Aids Programme Secretariat (NAPS) representative Nazim Hussein were present at the meeting.
Speaking to this publication immediately after the officials convened, Mohamed said that now the date has been finalised, work must begin to get all the logistical arrangements in place for the cycling’s signature event on the local calendar.
The activity is a collaborative effort of the Ministries of Health and Sport and the Guyana Cycling Federation.
After travelling to the Ancient County on October 10, the opening stage will be held the following day from Corriverton to New Amsterdam (46.6 miles) from 07: 30h; while Stage Two will be on the same day from Rosignol to Georgetown (60.4 miles) from 14: 00h.
Stage Three will take place on October 12 from Wales to Parika (35 miles) from 09: 00h, while the penultimate stage will be contested from 07: 30h the following day from Supenaam to Suddie, covering a distance of 62 miles.
The fifth and final stage will commence in Linden at 08: 30h and finish in Georgetown on October 14, covering a distance of 62 miles.
As was the case in previous years, the event will be held with the objectives of increasing awareness and knowledge about HIV/ Aids among participants and the general public, and increasing HIV/ Aids activism and volunteerism among the participants and inspiring them to become ambassadors in the fight against HIV/ Aids.
The event has over the years attracted a large amount of overseas riders, and this year would be no different. Team Coco’s Michael Larsen is the defending champion of the Open category, having won the event in a time of 10 hours, 29 minutes, 39 seconds (10h: 29m: 39s).
Team Coco, a group based in Miami, has been very dominant at the Five-Stage, and this publication understands that a Team Guyana will be assembled to challenge the foreigners.