Barbadian Darren Matthews scored an emphatic win in taking the third-leg 50-lap Criterium during the Tobago Cycle Classic in Plymouth, yesterday. Matthews showed his strength by making an early break in the 14th lap and went on to win over his Team Coco partner Jaime Ramirez of Colombia and Christopher Jennings (South Africa).
With the triumph, Matthews extends his overall lead going into today's final leg in Scarborough-a 60-lap around Market Square set for 10 o'clock in the morning. The 21-year-old Bridgetown resident was caught and passed by Ramirez in the closing laps as the fans eagerly awaited the final lap.
Matthews surged passed his teammate in the final straight to take his second win of the tour and maintain the overall lead (yellow shirt). Marloe Rodman of Jamaica leads the sprints standings. Matthew accumulated the most points though, but could not wear both leader's shirts today.
Matthews' compatriot Stuart Maloney was hoping to continue the Barbadian magic in the Division Two 25-lap race. Maloney, the overall leader before the race, had to settle for second behind T&T's Roger Smart. The Madonna Wheelers cyclist avenged his loss to Maloney on the opening day in Buccoo on Wednesday.
Another Madonna/TT rider, Nicholas Lopez was third with Bajan Ross Callender taking fourth. Maloney maintains the overall leader (green shirt). Carifta champion Mark London rode away with the Category 3 and 4 ten-lap race. The reigning Carifta boys Under-20 800 metre gold medallist took the lead in the second lap in his home town and never looked back as he crossed the line well ahead of Sheldon Corbin and Brian Carcus, respectively.
