Picolli takes Tour of Tobago

Competing in the 71.8 miles/115.6 km category for the second straight year, Picolli made his bid for victory while turning onto Easterfield Road in Mason Hall from Hope.

Up to that point in the race, he and Ramirez were inseparable.

Picolli collected TT$10,000 for his efforts from Division of Tourism and Transportation representative Nigel Wilson shortly after the race. Deputy Chief Secretary of the Tobago House of Assembly and Secretary of Tourism and Transportation Tracy Davidson-Celestine later presented Picolli with his winning trophy at the Classic’s Prize Giving and Closing Ceremony.

He also earned TT$1,500 as he won the King of The Mountain honours with 37 points. Ramirez took away TT$5,000 and Cruz TT$2,500. Antigua and Barbuda’s Jymes Bridges (Team Braves) was the Top Caribbean Finisher while Akeem Campbell (Team Cocos) was the first local cyclist across the line. Colombian Camilio Pedroza (Team Econ Car Rentals) secured the prize for the Top Rider Under 25 years old. Fifty-five riders from 18 countries (Dominican Republic, Colombia, Guyana, USA, Canada, Netherlands, Cuba, Barbados, France, Martinique, Ecuador, Sweden, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Jamaica, Antigua and Barbuda and Venezuela participated.

The UCI 1.2 Tour of Tobago was the final event of the six-day long Tobago International Cycle Classic (TICC). Arno Van Der Zwet of the Netherlands (PSL/RBC) won the Division One category Stage Race held on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Marloe Rodman (JAM/PSL/RBC) won the Sprint Primes crown. Jabari Whiteman (TT/Southclaine) took home the Division Two trophy with D’Angelo Harris securing the Division Three honours.

Over 250 local, regional and international riders from 25 countries competed in the 30th edition of the TICC.

This year’s TICC was sponsored by the Tobago House Assembly, Tourism Development Company (TDC), Ministry of Sports, Sports Company of Trinidad and Tobago, National Lotteries Control Board, Caribbean Bottlers, Caribbean Airlines, Blink/BMobile, British Airways, Econ Car Rentals, Kiss Baking, Holidays Snacks, Johnstons Apartments and Crown Point Hotel.