Abraham favourite for Tobago Classic

Trinidad and Tobago’s top road cyclist Emile Abraham goes for a third consecutive win in the Tobago International Classic which pedals off today. The 29-year-old Abraham, a five-time champion of the Classic, will face very stiff competition in the gruelling four-day event, with his rivals coming from Europe, North American and other Caribbean territories. The classic series starts today at 1 pm with a five-lap circuit race, sponsored by Polar Ice Beer,  from Crown Point Hotel through Shirvan Park to Mount Irvine and Turtle Beach and to Plymouth Road, returning for a finish at Crown Point. The main Tour of Tobago event will climax the competition on Sunday. Riders from Austria, Belgium, Canada, England, Martinique, Curacao, Puerto Rico, Anguilla, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenad-ines (SVG), Barbados and Grenada are listed to compete.
 
The highlight tomorrow will be an 18km individual time trial race from 7 am sponsored by Newsday newspaper. The third stage is a 20-lap circuit race, sponsored by Beacon Insurance while the fourth stage on Saturday, sponsored by Vita Malt is a seven-lap 150km circuit race. Final stage on Sunday, is the gruelling 120km Tour of Tobago road race. Apart from the events for the International and Open Classes, the Veterans, Juniors and Women will compete over three stages of the race. There will also be an International Women’s Category over the five stages, the first time this will be attempted. Close to $50,000 in prizes will be at stake in this year’s classic.