‘Winner Takes All’ cycling today

A THRILLING finish is expected in today’s novel “Winner Takes All” 30-lap event sponsored by Harricrete.

The race, organised by Phillips Promotions, is the feature event on a eight-event programme which gets going from 2 pm in front of the Cricket Wicket Pub, opposite the Queen’s Park Oval in Port-of-Spain. At stake in today’s race is $3,000 for the winner. Although the local wheelsmen, headed by Caribbean Road Champion Stephen Mangroo and the consistent Emile Abraham are favoured to feature in the finish, all eyes will be on the visiting competitors from the Czech Republic. Petr Klimes and Filip Sustr arrived in Trinidad last week and are eager to get into their stride in anticipation of the upcoming Beacon Insurance Company Limited West Indies versus the World series. They are also expected to compete in this weekend’s Southern Games at Guaracara Park, Pointe-a-Pierre.

Apart from the main event today, there will also be races for juniors, club riders, veterans, tinymites, unregistered cyclists and women. Last weekend Abraham proved his status as the “man to beat” when the Beacon Insurance Cycling Series pedals off in April. The Tobago-born pedal-pusher won the main event, the 30-lap race, as the “Come Race Series” continued outside the Cricket Wicket Pub. In his first contest since returning from training in Europe, Abraham cruised to victory ahead of Guy Costa, Joshua Alexander and Christopher Gill. And the ever-smiling Abraham opened the day’s events with the gold medal in the one-lap open sprint. Kathy Looger sped away with the women five-lap race, with Maria Gooding and Monifa Ross trailing while Gregory Dandrade copped the veteran six-lap challenge, with Earl La Fond and Ronald Peters behind. Adam Alexander claimed the three-lap event for juniors, juveniles and tinymites, while Christopher Sellier was second and Gustavo Jacob third.

The track events were contested on Saturday at Skinner Park, San Fernando, with Winzey “The Arima Kid” Mohammed beating the odds with victory in the open 30-lap race, with “Cyclist of the Year 2002” Elisha Greene the runner-up and Chris Gill third.