‘Winner Takes All’ cycling on Monday

The 30-lap event, sponsored by Harricrete, worth $3,000 to the winner comes off on Monday, the Spiritual Baptist Holiday, and is the feature of an eight-event programme organised by Phillips Promotions Company, headed by former national sprint champion Michael Phillips.

The launch was held on Wednesday at the office of Beacon Insurance Company Limited on Stanmore Avenue, Port-of-Spain and in attendance was Bianca Barrett, representing Harricrete of Caroni Village.

Also present were top local riders Stephen Mangroo, the Caribbean Road Cycling Champion; Elijah Greene, "Cyclist of the Year"; promising riders Ako Kellar and Joshua Alexander; Peter Jacques of England and two competitors from the Czech Republic, Petr Klines and Filip Sustr.

The "Take All Cycling Classic" is the brainchild of Phillips and his colleagues Ronald and Richard Dickie of Phillips Promotions Company Limited who are the organisers of the upcoming West Indies versus The World series.

"We wanted a race which will pose a challenge to the riders.

"In this event they will have to rethink their strategy and partnerships since the winner will take the purse. There will be no second and third prizes at stake," said Phillips on Wednesday.

He said interesting propositions will be the order of the day among the riders who ordinarily depend on one another for success in the circuit and road races and hinted that there may be some desperation expressed by those who are reluctant to put their faith in teamwork for this race.

The programme gets underway at 2 pm in front of Cricket Wicket Pub, opposite the Queen’s Park Oval in Port-of-Spain with events for club riders, juniors, veterans, juniors six years old to 16, unregistered pedal-pushers and women.

Of added interest will be the participation of the two Czech cyclists who arrived early for the Beacon Insurance Company Limited West Indies versus The World series which pedals off April 9 with a night race around the Queen’s Park Savannah in Port-of-Spain.

Cyclists Laison Dennis Des Vignes said on Wednesday the Czechs will ride on Monday and train with the local wheelsmen leading up to the Southern Games at Skinner Park, San Fernando on April 5 and 6.

On April 16 they will be joined by their countrymen Pavel Buran, Ivan Vrba and Arnost Dremunek for the Beacon series forming one of the most formidable combinations in the competition.

Phillips also announced that for the first time in the four-year history of the event, no American riders will be competing because of the security concerns caused by the ongoing military conflict in Iraq.

"It has everything to do with the war in Iraq and the provision of a security detail for the riders. I imagine the Americans will only be riding this year in the World Cup and World Championships," said Phillips.

Englishman Jacques, dubbed an "honorary Trinidadian" is back. First here in 1994, he is no longer a professional and hinted yesterday this season could be his last as a competitive cyclist.

He however said he was impressed with the Czechs, who are both young and look fit and have obviously been training very seriously in the gym.

Jacques said the reason for his imminent retirement is his inability to recover quickly from injury but at 34 years of age said he still has the motivation to compete at a high level and is always willing to offer the benefit of his experience to the younger, up-and-coming cyclists.