The number one ranked criterium rider Daniel Holloway and bikes from Specialized, one of the most successful brands of bicycles will be two of the highlights at the Beacon Cycling on the Avenue 3 which pedals off next week Tuesday from 7.30 pm on Ariapita Avenue, Woodbrook, Port-of-Spain.
At the event's media conference yesterday at SOHO Restuarant on Ariapita Avenue, race director Michael Phillips wanted to keep some of the top riders carded to compete a secret but did confirm that Holloway will be present. Phillips said: "We have coming out of the USA Daniel Holloway, who is number one ranked criterium rider, it is the second time he will be coming to Trinidad to race." Other top international, regional and local cyclists who will compete at the Tobago International Cycling Classic from today until Sunday will also participate.
Phillips added that quality bikes would be on display next week. Cyclists using Specialized bikes won both the Tour of Spain and Tour de France events held recently making the brand one of the most successful brands in the world this year. "The important thing to note here is what we are able to do is to get the Specialized Bicycle Company to bring a team of riders. They are actually bringing bicycles to test on the terrain." The Specialized team wants to see what punishment the bikes can endure on the T&T terrain. Phillips said that this high end equipment will help with sport tourism in the country.
The feature race of the night will be the 36-lap (1.2 km per lap) main event with top riders. Eleven races will speed off on the night, also featuring juvenile, senior ladies, juniors and masters. The first race will be a 200-metre sprint featuring invitational and international riders. All races will begin and end outside Mike's Bikes on Ariapita Avenue. There will also be a minute slience for last year's champion Euris Vidal who died last December. Vidal of the Dominican Republic was shot attempting to prevent a robbery in Santiago.
Beacon representative Christian Hadeed stated the company is committed to T&T sport. "It is indeed a pleasure again to be here representing Beacon as the title sponsor of the biggest cycling event in the Caribbean."