Crash mars Tobago Cycling Classic

An American cyclist was seriously injured yesterday when he collided head-on with a vehicle during the fourth stage of the annual Tobago International Cycle Classic. Eric Murphy, of Team USA Preferred, sustained head and facial injuries when he reportedly smashed through the windscreen of an oncoming vehicle. Up to late yesterday he was detained at the Scarborough Hospital undergoing X-ray examination and other tests.

Another foreigner, Robert Smith of Germany, who was also involved in the smash-up was treated at hospital and discharged. While Smith reportedly suffered minor injuries, his bicycle was a wreck. The accident occurred around 10 am along the Northside Road at Concordia, near Mason Hall. The peloton was heading downhill towards Scarborough on the final lap of yesterday’s five-lap circuit race. According to reports, Murphy was among a group of riders behind the two leaders when he crashed head-on into the car as he was negotiating a corner. Smith, who was following in the same group, also collided with the car.

Race Director Robert Camps explained: “The riders were descending on the final lap. The police were trying their best to keep the cars to the side, but there was one car that may or may not have been pulled totally to the side of the road and Eric came in contact with this vehicle head-on, and his head smashed the windscreen,” said Camps. “That’s the reason for the facial injuries,” the former national road race champion told reporters yesterday. Camps said Murphy was among the first ten riders overall. He was eighth overall on Friday after the third stage of the five-stage event. Meanwhile, John Leiswyn of US team Healthnet, and Jon Tarkington, of USA Preferred, were joint winners of yesterday’s fourth stage in a time of two hours, 58 minutes 08.50 seconds.

Following them in third position with a time of 3:13:06.37 was pre-race favourite Emile Abraham, of Healthnet. Abraham won Friday’s third stage and seems on course to retain the title to make it four- in- a- row. The Tobago International Cycle Classic climaxes today with the tough around-the-island grind.