Petrotrin Cycling pedals off

The once-in-a-lifetime opportunity presented itself when the Petrotrin Cycling Series pedaled off yesterday in Fyzabad with a 60-km International Road Criterium starting at 6 pm.

Events will also be staged in Siparia, Pointe-a-Pierre and Point Fortin, towns all situated in the heart of the oil belt which have contributed significantly to the development of Trinidad and Tobago.

The cycling event of the Petrotrin Palo Seco Games has been re-engineered this year through the involvement of experienced event organiser Jeffrey Charles.

Co-opted by the Organising Committee of the Games, Charles who has built the Tour of Tobago Classic into an international event, has re-tooled the Petrotrin Cycling Series into a five-day affair.

Cyclists from Colombia, Argentina, Guyana, Italy, England and Germany will do battle with their Caribbean counterparts from Cuba, Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago for attractive cash prizes and incentives, The competition is expected to be especially keen leading up to the Grand Finale on Sunday on the concrete- banked track of the Palo Seco Velodrome since many of the cyclists have primed up for the races at the recent Easter Grand Prix at Arima.

Among the prizes offered in the Petrotrin Cycling Series are: Most Outstanding in the following categories: Overall ($12,000); Team ($6,000); Caribbean International ($2,000); TT International ($1,500); Category One, Two, Invitational ($1,000); Two Track Days—- Category Three, Four and Five ($500); Junior ($500); Veteran ($500); Juvenile ($350); Tinymite ($250); Female ($250.) Apart from the Overall awards given to the pedal pushers who have been consistent throughout the Petrotrin Cycling Series, there is also cash at stake in the individual events for the first three finishers in all races.

Tonight’s event starts at Market Square Junction, Fyzabad, with cyclists proceeding south along Guapo Road, then turning right along Uriah Butler Avenue/Sanderson Avenue, left on Guapo Road and completing a 40- lap circuit.

The course has been described as “fast and flat” with a 250-metre incline per lap, approximately 1.5 km long with the entire race covering 60 kms. Overall winner pocketing $3,000 with $1,500 for the runner- up and $1,000 for the third placed cyclist. Cash prizes will be given to the first ten finishers.

In addition $500 will go the top Category One, Two and Invitational winner; $800 to the leading TT rider; $1,000 for the best Caribbean rider and $1,500 for the champion team.

Today, the cyclists will switch to the grass track at Guaracara Park, Pointe-a-Pierre with 32 events planned starting at 6 pm.

The races will be open for Internationals, BMX Boys and Girls, Women, Tinymites, Category One and Two, Category Three and Four, Category Five; Juveniles; and Veterans 60 and Over, 50 and Over and 40 and Over.

After a rest day tomorrow, the riders will hit the road once again with an international Road Cycling Criterium at Siparia starting at 6 pm.

Confirmed Participants: Italy-Lampre — Marco Baccin (Manager), Antonio Quadranti, Francesco Barattieri, Luca Bacchiavini, Samuele Marzoli Cuba — Hector Morales (Manager), Adrian Gonzales Olivares, Ahmed Lopez Naranjo, Yasmani Pol Rodriguez, Yunier Alvarez Rivero Great Britain-Sciencesport — Denise Young (Manager), Tim Lawson, Gary Adamson, James Rutherford, Andy Tinsley, Marloe Rodman Guyana — Carmen Pertap (Manager), Alanzo Greaves, Warren McKay, Darren Allen, Junior Niles Jamaica — Vaughn Phang (Manager), Tinga Turner, Lainel Stewart, Leighton Anderson, Jason Briscoe Colombia — Edward Sepulveda, Carlos Alzate, Camilo Ulloa, Weimar Roldon, Jaime Suaza Argentina — Juan Martin Ferrari, Martin Adrian Ercila, Josue Moyano, Dario Pagliaricci Germany — Andreas Mueller, Andreas Graf, Marc-Wayne Addison, Christophe Grancher, Stefan Loffler Barbados — Bill Huck (Manager), Pat Huck, Jason Ford, Simon Clark, Darwin Griffith, Jason Perryman International Officials and Special Guests — Julie Benham, Chief Commissiare (England) Michel MarieSaint, Assistant Commissiare (Martinique) Trevor Bailey, President Caribbean Cycling Federation (St Vincent)