Tobago Cycling Classic pedals off

Emile Abraham will line up as the favourite when the 2004 Tobago International Cycling Classic pedals off today at 6 am. The three-time and defending overall champion (2001-2003) has been campaigning overseas but gave the assurance recently that he and his Healthnet team were coming to win. Abraham however suggested that he would be equally keen on making the fourth crown one for the team and alluded to the possibility of him falling into a supportive role. Day one of the classic features Stage 1: the 20 kilometre (km) Individual time trial in Division 1 and 2 and the Division 3 Bunch Race begins at 6, 7 and 8 am respectively And Stage 2: Division 3 two-lap 25-km Circuit Race, Division 1 125-km ten-lap Circuit Race and the Division 2 70-km six lap Circuit Race around the 11 km Carnbee Circuit begin at 12.30pm, 2 and 2.05pm respectively.

Stage 1, profiled as flat and fast with minor rolling inclines, begins at the corner of Hope and Belmont Road, proceeds down the Claude Noel Highway and finishes at Colours Restaurant and Bar. Stage 2, with the same profile as Stage 1, starts at Colours Restaurant and Bar up to Carnbee and through Shirvan Road and back to Colours for the finish. The international contingent includes Abraham’s Healthnet, USA; Ofoto, USA; il Diavolo, Germany; Quebec’s top team— Team Espoire, Canada;  a mix of pros and Elite riders-Preferred Team, USA; a potent mix of Canadians, Europeans and USA riders-Ford/Red Hills, USA.

The region will be represented by the best national teams including Guadeloupe, premier road team in the region; Martinique most successful regional team 2004; Barbados, St Lucia, St Vincent, Grenada, Venezuela, Guyana, Puerto Rico and Antigua. Event sponsors include Daily News Limited, publishers of Newsday Newspaper; BWIA; British Airways; Beacon Insurance Limited; Angostura Limited; TIDCO; Econo Car Rentals; Auto Rentals Limited; NBN; Agostini Marketing; Johnston Apartments; Crown Point Hotel; Gremli Car Rentals; Colours Restaurant and Bar; and the Tobago House of Assembly.