Lexus for top Beacon cyclist

PRESTIGE HOLDINGS Limited, through their subsidiary Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), have injected $40,000 in the annual West Indies versus The World Cycling Series. The contest begins tomorrow and runs until April 11 with events at the Arima Municipal Stadium, Skinner Park in San Fernando, Palo Seco Recreation Grounds and the sister isle of  Tobago. Chief organiser of the series, Michael Phillips, described the yearly event as “a five-year plan which can lead to a strong footing in the international calendar.”

Phillips, head of Phillips Promotions, was speaking at a news conference at the Prestige’s Head Office, Sackville Street, Port-of-Spain on Friday. The cycling livewire expects the competition, which is into its fourth year, to become one of the largest events on the world stage, due to the location, type of races involved and the prizes. And the champion rider of the series will drive away with a Lexus 500 vehicle. Phillips, a former national track cycling champ, revealed that the overall cost of staging the programme was $750,000. He is keen on marketing the series in order to attract a wide cross-section of the nation and, by extension, the world through Cycling Weekly magazine, who will also cover the event. Also delivering an address at the launch was KFC Brand Manager, Wendy Alleyne. “This is the fourth year that KFC has been involved with this event, which has grown from strength to strength over the years and which remains the most eagerly-awaited event on the Caribbean cycling calendar,” she said.

Alleyne revealed that the company would but a lot of emphasis on attracting children to attend the two-week long series. “Observers of KFC over the years would have noted that the large majority of our marketing thrust has been targetted at the youth of the society,” she said. “This has been our largest market and it is, therefore, only fitting that, wherever possible, we should attempt to support the nation’s youth in healthy endeavours such as this cycling event.” Every child who purchases a KFC Kid’s Pack will be provided with a free pass to any of the meets while an entry form will be offered to each Pass Holder, making them eligible to win one of ten bicycles or 16 scooters courtesy Ojar’s Bike Inn. “So, I want to take this opportunity to invite all the nation’s children to avail themselves of this great opportunity, not only to win valuable prizes but also to see some of the world’s greatest cyclists in action,” Alleyne added.