Guyana’s sporting fraternity was plunged into mourning Friday following the death of legendary national cycling coach Hassan Mohamed, widely regarded as the “father of cycling” for his decades of service to the sport. He was 80.
News of Mohamed’s passing quickly spread across the local cycling community and social media Friday, prompting expressions of sadness and tributes to a man whose influence extended across several generations of Guyanese cyclists.
Mohamed was remembered as much more than a cycling coach. Tributes described him as a father figure, mentor and pillar of Guyana’s cycling fraternity — a reflection of the personal relationships he developed with scores of young riders during more than half a century in the sport.
For many cyclists, Mohamed was the man who gave them their introduction to competitive racing, encouraged them through their formative years and continued to follow their careers long after they had graduated from his programmes.
His death brings to an end one of the most remarkable careers in the history of Guyanese sport.
Born on Oct. 28, 1945, Mohamed began cycling at age 13 with the Carlton Wheelers Cycle Club in 1958. He competed until 1972 before shifting his attention to coaching and administration — a transition that would ultimately transform cycling locally.
After receiving a three-month scholarship to Rome through the Guyana Olympic Association in 1975, Mohamed obtained qualifications from the International Cycling Union and in physical education. Upon his return, he was appointed national cycling coach, attached to the National Sports Commission, on Aug. 1, 1975.
It was in that role that Mohamed’s influence became deeply embedded in Guyana’s cycling history.
For decades, he was the driving force behind the National Sports Commission’s annual “Teach Them Young” cycling programme at the National Park, which began in 1977.
The programme introduced children to cycling, taught them the fundamentals of the sport and provided a pathway into competitive racing. Mohamed once estimated that more than 90% of Guyana’s cyclists had passed through the programme.
Among those associated with the programme over the years were some of the country’s best-known riders, including Noel and Marcus Fiedtkou, Byron and Bertram James, Dwayne “Road Hog” Gibbs, Godfrey Pollydore and Linden Dowridge.
Mohamed’s influence extended well beyond coaching.
He became one of Guyana’s most prolific cycling organisers, forging relationships with corporate sponsors and staging races at the National Park and on public roads across the country. His ability to consistently organise events provided generations of cyclists with opportunities to race, develop their skills and represent Guyana.
He is also credited with introducing circuit racing locally, using the National Park’s inner circuit to create a competitive racing environment at a time when Guyana lacked a dedicated velodrome.
His enormous contribution to sport earned him national recognition.
In 1990, Mohamed was awarded the Medal of Service by then-President Hugh Desmond Hoyte for his contribution to cycling development and service to Guyana.
He was also twice named runner-up Coach of the Year by the National Sports Commission, in 1991 and 1996, and received recognition from the Guyana Olympic Association for his contribution to the development of sport.
Even after officially retiring following more than 50 years in sports administration, Mohamed remained deeply interested in cycling and the development of young riders.
In a 2024 interview, he expressed hope that he would live to see Guyana establish its first dedicated cycling stadium or velodrome.
For generations of Guyanese cyclists, however, Mohamed’s greatest legacy will not be measured by awards or accolades, but by the hundreds of riders he coached, mentored and encouraged and the countless races and programmes he organised.
Through more than half a century of service, Mohamed became inseparable from the history of Guyanese cycling.
His passing Friday closes a remarkable chapter in local sport, but the generations of cyclists he developed and the foundation he helped build ensure that the legacy of Guyana’s “father of cycling” will endure.