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PHILIPSBURG-- More than 60 riders including some children are registered to compete the third annual NAGICO to NAGICO (N2N) Cycling Race which starts this evening. There will be two races Saturday and a finale Sunday.
Thursday representatives from NAGICO Insurances, the title sponsor, in collaboration with the Velo Club de Grand Case (VCG) met with the police and Red Cross at the police station to go over the safety protocol and cycling route.
"Our highest priority at this time is the safety of our riders and road users during our NAGICO to NAGICO cycling races," said Lisa Brown. The Marketing Supervisor for NAGICO continued "we have been receiving tremendous support from the police where road safety and usage is concerned and we really want to extend our thanks to them for this. I also want to use this opportunity to urge motorists to exercise caution and care on the road, especially during the races, as we have more than 60 riders registered to compete and this includes children."
Action starts March 20 with the Time Trails over the Causeway Bridge in Bellevue. The race is set to start at 7:00pm The Causeway Bridge will be closed to all traffic including pedestrians in both directions.
The first race Saturday is the Senior 85km stage from NAGICO Quatier d 'Orleans starting at 8:00am and returning to NAGICO at 10:30am. The Seniors start at the NAGICO and head via Coralita Road to the Oyster Pond Border. The race will cross to the Dutch side on the Oyster Pond Road in the vicinity of Casa Blanca passing Rice Hill Gardens, the intersection at Bishop Hill and Tata the Bus Driver roundabout, turning right heading back to French Quarter.
This will lap will be completed seven times. Once the race arrives on the Dutch side all traffic will be stopped until all riders have crossed back over to the French side.
At the end of the Senior Race, the Junior Race will take place with the same starting point and ending point (one lap only). This race will end around 12:00pm.
Starting at 3:30pm will be the 6km Time Trial from Sucker Garden to the top of Link 2. The finish is scheduled for 5:30pm.
Action starts at Papa's Grill on Sucker Garden Road and flows past Freedom Fighters Roundabout, Walter Nisbeth Road, Salt Pickers Roundabout, Percy Labega Street, Long Wall Road, Kerkhof Steeg, Little Bay Road, Link One, Octavius Richardson Street, One Tete Loke Roundabout and ends at the Alexis Arnell road.
Police officers and volunteers will only temporarily stop traffic along the route to ensure continues flowing into and out of the Philipsburg area.
Sunday the cyclists are scheduled for an 11-km leg starting at 8:00am from NAGICO in Philipsburg and finishing at 11:30am at NAGICO in Marigot.
Starting at the NAGICO office on Cannegieter Street the race will go to D.A. Peterson Street, Salt Pickers Roundabout, past Salt Pickers Roundabout to Percy Labega Street, Long wall Road, Kerkhof Steeg, Little Bay Road, Link One, Octavius Richardson Street, One Tete Loke Roundabout, Alexis Arnell Road and onto the roundabout on top of Cole Bay Hill.
The group will continue over A.J.C. Brouwers Road, Osborn Kruythoff Roundabout, Union Road, East Side Roundabout to Causeway Bridge, West side Roundabout, Airport Boulevard, Rhine Road and onto the border.
The race will then go over to the French Side via Lowlands and return to the Dutch side at Oyster Bay Road, after which it continues on Bishop Hill Road, past Tata the Bus Driver Roundabout, turning left and going back to the French side via French Quarter.
The race will again come on to the Dutch side via Belle View on to Union Road, Eastside Roundabout, Causeway Bridge, Westside Roundabout, Airport Boulevard via Rhine road and back to the French Side.
Three laps will be made around the Simpson Bay Lagoon involving the Union road, Causeway Bridge, Airport Boulevard, Rhine Road to the French side. The race will end at in Marigot.
