Dominique Mayho is hoping for a second back-to-back victory when he puts his Sinclair Packwood Memorial Race title on the line in the big race from Somerset to Hamilton tomorrow.

Mayho achieved a record fourth win last year, after previous victories in 2012, 2013 and 2018, and certainly knows what it takes to win the race.

“I’ve been preparing for it, the last few weeks has been pretty much focusing on being in the best shape I could be for it,” said Mayho, who was careful not to appear too confident.

“In bike racing anything can happen so you can never be too confident. I think I have a good chance of winning if I do everything right. It’s going to be an amazing event, like always.

“In that race, because it is so short, you pretty much have only one chance to get it right. If somebody goes out in front and you’re not paying attention it could cost you the race.”

Mayho had a good win for his team, VT Construction, recently in the Gnosis Criterium in Hamilton when he joined Cameron Morris and Philip Mace in claiming the podium places. The race concluded just a short distance from the finish of the Sinclair Packwood race.

This race, however, is more about individual honours, with riding skills and tactics definitely key factors.

“I just have to stay focused and my team will help to ensure that we don’t miss any of those moves off the front,” Mayho said. “It should be a good event. It’s always close, definitely.”

The race is in its 35th year, after starting out in 1987 as the Heritage Race.

Cyclists will leave Somerset at 8.20am, ten minutes before the runners as they set off on a fast journey to Cedar Avenue. A junior race will start at the same time from Red Hole on Harbour Road, also finishing on Cedar Avenue.

Nicole Mitchell is the women’s defending champion, while Caitlyn Conyers is back on the island and has reportedly registered to compete ahead of today’s deadline, making for an exciting women’s race. So far there are 40 riders signed up in the various categories.

The race, which missed one year, 2020, because of the pandemic, was renamed the Sinclair Packwood Memorial Race in 1999 in honour of the late champion who died in November 1998.

Packwood was the first back-to-back winner of the race in 1992 and 1993.