T&T cyclist Varun Maharajh, Jamaican Marloe Rodman and Dominican Republic's Adderlyn Cruz will take centre stage when the Beacon Cycling on the Avenue Four pedals off at Ariapita Avenue, Woodbrook, from 7.30 pm, tonight.
Maharajh, Rodman and Cruz have all had success over the last two weeks competing in T&T. At the Michael Phillips Republic Day Cycling Classic on September 24, Maharajh of the Rigtech Sonics Cycling Club won the 35-lap main event around the Nelson Mandela Park in St Clair.
Rodman of PSL Cycling Club, walked away with the overall title at the four-stage Tobago International Cycling Classic (TICC) which took place in Tobago from September 29 � October 3. In the UCI (International Cycling Union) Tour of Tobago, the closing event of the TICC, Cruz of Team Foundation won the grueling 120km event in three hours, 39 minutes and three seconds.
Tonight, cyclists from around the world who competed at the TICC will aim to win the 30-lap main event for international, elite one, elite two and invitational riders which starts and finishes at Mike's Bikes. The first prize for the main event is $10,000.
Some of the countries represented tonight include Germany, France, USA, Colombia, T&T, Jamaica, Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda and Guyana. Juvenile, women, juniors, masters, elite three and elite four riders will also compete. The first event of the night will be a 200-metre sprint for invitational and international riders, while the closing 30-lap main event is scheduled to begin at 8.45 pm. A two-lap event for invitational and international riders will take place prior to the main event.
At the event's media conference at Mike's Bikes yesterday, Gerald Hadeed, CEO of Beacon spoke about the company's involvement in cycling.
Hadeed said, "We have been associated with the development of the sport for 19 years. For quite a while Beacon has been promoting cycling and other sporting events as part of our delivery of our social responsibility for T&T.
"Next year will be our 20th anniversary involved with the sport and we intend to put on a major show for our 20th anniversary."
Event promoter Michael Phillips told the international riders what to expect on the night. "It is a pleasure to host you international riders here, to come and experience a bit of T&T, to have fun and get an opportunity to win some great prizes. I remember the second place finisher last year Yondi Schmidt said he wished an event like this will take place in his homeland (Netherlands)."
The event, which is free for spectators, will include live performances from soca artistes Farmer Nappy and Lil Bits.