National cyclist Njisane Phillip will lead a six-member T&T team at the Easter Cycling International Grand Prix, which pedals off today at 5 pm at the Arima Velodrome.
Action will continue at the Arima Velodrome tomorrow and the Grand Prix will conclude at Skinner Park, San Fernando on Sunday. Events begin at 5 pm each day.
Njisane will captain the national team, which also includes Varun Maharajh, Barry Luces, Jude Codrington and brothers Joshua and Adam Alexander. International cyclists are expected from Colombia, Argentina, Barbados, Jamaica, Guyana and Mexico. At this year's Grand Prix, which is the premier event on the T&T cycling calender, the young cyclists and past greats will be the highlight.
At a press conference held yesterday at the Ministry of Sport, Abercromby Street, Port-of-Spain, T&T Cycling Federation president Rowena Williams said: "Our theme this year is going for gold, we are looking at our junior cyclists and recognising their performances over the years. We will also pay tribute to our (T&T's) past greats, Hilton 'Barracuda' Mitchell, Russel Parris, Glen Harvey, Kent Luces and Clinton Grant."
Williams stated the federation wants to encourage the young athletes to take up the mantle from the past greats and achieve greatness in the years to come.
At the event, endurance riders will be given more attention. Williams said: "This year our international field is made up of endurance riders, most times we spend time focusing on our sprinters, this year we are focusing on endurance, giving them more competition."
The 30-lap event will be the longest race on the schedule.
Barbadian endurance rider Darren Matthews, is happy there will be longer races at the Grand Prix. Matthews, who has been competing at the Grand Prix for the past six years, believes he will have some good performances at the Grand Prix.
The endurance rider also praised the T&T Cycling Federation for hosting track cycling events. He said: "T&T is the only federation making the effort to put on track racing in the caribbean, so for us (Barbadians) to have track racing right next door in Trinidad, it is perfect for us. It should give the other federations motivation to do track racing."
Ticket prices for each night will be $50 for adults and $10 for children 12 and under.
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