Bigger prizes in Tobago cycling

The Tobago House of Assembly (THA) have expressed confidence in the island’s capability to host this year’s Tobago International Cycling Classic from tomorrow to September 19. Teams have already been arriving in the sister isle and organisers of the 18th edition of the event are ready to put on what is being touted as the biggest cycling race in the Caribbean. Speaking at the official launch yesterday, Gerard Ferreira, president of the Trinidad and Tobago Cycling Federation (TTCF) lauded the efforts of promoter Jeffrey Charles and the Trinbago Wheelers Cycling Club to establish the classic as a fixture on the regional cycling calendar. The former Mayor of San Fernando described the race’s atmosphere as “relaxed but competitive” and said that events such as these go a long way toward the promotion of Tobago as a sport tourism destination.

Ferreira, now president of the Arima Race Club, headquarters of local horseracing, traced the classic’s rise from the inception to the present.  He noted that it has become progressively competitive especially with the introduction of international riders and said this would go a long way in the development of the region’s riders as they compete against the world. Charles revealed the Guadeloupe national team would make their debut this year after finally accepting their invitation and Martinique would be keen to improve on their performance last year. This  year’s classic features a 30 percent increase in prize money — up to $70,000 from $50,000. The overall winner collects $10,000, an increase of $4,000 with the winning team pocketing $5,000, $3,000 more than last year. Emile Abraham who has won the Open Overall crown from 2001-2003 is searching for a fourth successive title.  He is coming off a good season in the United States of America and is set to head the Healthnet line-up.

Abraham made it clear yesterday that he intends to retain the crown and called for the continued support of the Tobago public for the Classic which he noted is important to the riders. The five stages of the Classic will be contested over four days in three divisions —  Division One, which will go the distance, and is open to national teams, Elite One and Two cyclists with minimum five cyclists per team; Division 2 is open to the Veterans, Women and Juniors and will be contested over the shortened first three stages with starts being three to five minutes apart; and Division 3, open to unregistered cyclists. Those not registered with the TTCF and recreational riders will compete over the first three stages. Robert Camps, a member of the Organising Committee and a former national road race champion said that Division Three would only be staged with a minimum of ten cyclists.

The course basically remains the same with the only real adjustment being that the curtain closing Tour of Tobago Race will not go through downtown Scarborough as it has in previous years. The opening ceremony and technical briefing will take place tomorrow. Stage One begins at 6 am with the  Division One 20-kilometre Individual Time Trial followed by the Division Two 20-kilometre Individual Time Trial at 7 am and the Division Three 20- Kilometre Bunch Race at 8 am. All races in this stage start at the corner of Hope and Belmont Road, Bacolet. Stage Two begins with the Division Three Circuit Race, two laps of a 25-kilometre circuit, at 12.30 pm; the Division One Circuit Race, ten laps of a 125 km circuit, at 2 pm; and the Division Two Circuit Race, six laps of a 70-kilometre circuit, at 2 pm will be the last race of the first day. For further information call Jeff Charles at 627-9933, 680-1214 or e-mail kingnept@carib-link.net.