Jamaican Marlo Rodman dominated stage three of the Tobago International Cycling Classic in Plymouth, winning the 65km event in a sprint finish, yesterday afternoon.
Rodman, representing Team PSL, led from the start in the 50-lap criterium and went on to take the crown in one hour, 20 minutes and 04.39 seconds (1:20:04.39), ahead of Rafael Meran (Dominican Republic/Team Foundation) in 1:20.04.78 and Darren Matthews (Barbados/Team Coco) in 1:20.04.87. With the victory Rodman maintains the overall leader position and will wear the yellow jersey in today's final leg in Scarborough.
Rodman imposed himself on the field early on and was joined by Matthews, Meran and Matthieu Jeannes (Canada/Lupus) in the front. The four quickly separated themselves from the chasing bunch and lapped the entire field with 26 laps remaining. It was clear that the winner would come from one of the four riders.
The Canadian led at the bell from Meran, with Rodman lying in third ahead of Matthews. The lanky and muscular Jamaican outsprinted the other cyclists in the final loop to take the victory, and heads into today's fourth and final stage with a commanding lead on 71 points.
Stage one winner Norlandy Sanchez (Dominican Republic/Team Foundation) is 22 points behind in second with 49 points after he was seventh in Plymouth. Henner Rodel (Germany/Crown Bakery Knight) is third ahead of Matthews (35 points). Varun Maharajh (PSL) is the top local in sixth with 30 points following his eighth place in Plymouth (1:20.06.94). Tobago's Emile Abraham did not finish yesterday's race.
Rodman will also vie for the fast and furious keirin title today after he topped heat one in the qualifying round, also held in Plymouth. Rodman clocked three minutes, 11.18 seconds (3:11.18) to finish ahead of Abraham (3:11.64). The top four from the three heats advanced to the finals.
Another PSL cyclist copped the division two 20-lap event, as Guyanese Romello Crawford (Guyana) was first to the line in 37:54.09, ahead of stage two victor Tyler Cole (T&T/Rigtech Sonics) in 37.54.32 and Nicholas Paul (T&T/Breakaway) in 37:54.70. Leader after stage two, Tobagonian Kenverne Brathwaite (Easy Goers), finished seventh (37:57.04).
Enrique Pablo (T&T/Crown Bakery Knight) took the division three five-lap race in 9:25.10, ahead of D'Angelo Harris (T&T/Rig Tech Sonics) in 9:25.77 and Malique Samuel (Tobago/Easy Goers) in 9:25.82.
Today's Scarborough Criterium will begin at 8.30 am on Wilson Road near the Scarborough Market. The Tobago International Cycling Classic will conclude tomorrow with the UCI (International Cycling Union) Tour of Tobago.