Foreign invasion for Tobago cycling

TRINIDAD and Tobago’s top road cyclist Emile Abraham will be back to defend his title in the five-stage Tobago Cycling Classic from September 18 to 21.

Abraham is currently campaigning on the professional circuit in the United States but has confirmed his participation with organisers of the gruelling event in his homeland. Details of the participants were revealed recently by Glenda Camps who is the Public Relations Officer of the event which this year is expected to cost close to $300,000. Camps, wife of former national road champion Robert Camps said organisers have approached corporate sponsors who have indicated a willingness to underwrite the event. Apart from Abraham, the reigning national champion, Guyanese-born Stephen Mangroo together with Michael Als are also expected back from Belgium where they have been riding semi-professionally. Another rider who is expected to lead the local challenge is promising youngster Sheldon King who lives in Tobago.

Camps said that this year promises to see the biggest and best Tobago Cycling Classic ever with more participants and better incentives for the outsanding riders. Already 20 overseas contingents have accepted invitations to participate and Camps has not ruled out the inclusion of several more. The race pedals off on Thursday, September 18 after an opening ceremony and technical briefing at Crown Point Hotel. At 1.05 pm a two-lap 40km circuit race will engage unregistered riders, women and tinymites, almost simultaneously with the first stage of the International/Open event, a 120km five-lap circuit race. On Friday, September 19, from 6.30 am, unregistered riders, women and tinymites compete in an 18-kilometre road race while their International/Open counterparts match wheels in a 18-kilometre time trial aproximately 30 minutes later.

In the afternoon, unregistered bikers, women and tinymites take to the road in a three-lap 20km circuit race; while the Internatio-nal/Open wheelsmen tackle a 20-lap 140km circuit grind almost simultaneously. Saturday’s fourth stage is a seven-lap 150km circuit race leading to the final event, the climactic Tour of Tobago 120km road race from 8 am on Sunday. Prize distribution function will be staged on Sunday afternoon at the Crown Point Hotel. Also there will be a get-together of cyclists, officials, sponsors, supporters and friends on the Crown Point Hotel Grounds on Saturday evening.

The overseas teams are: Aire Valley Racing Team (England); Anguilla National Team (Anguilla); Barbados National Team (Barbados); Bouwelse Wielervrienden (Belgium); Dynamo Tirol (Austria); Espoir Cycliste Ducossais (Martinique); Innsbrucker Schwalben (Austria); Midwekk Racing Club (Canada); National Capital Velo Club (USA); Orlando Velo Cycling Team (USA); Randall Cycling Team (Canada); St Lucia National Team (St Lucia); St Vincent National Team (St Vincent); Team Aerospace Engineering/Toshiba (USA); Team Excelsior (Guadeloupe); Webcor Cycling Team (USA); Curacao National Team (Curacao); Puerto National Team (Puerto Rico); Guyana National Team (Guyana); US Combine Team.