This year’s Tobago International Cycling Classic has been hard hit by the absence of its large European contingent.
Chief organiser Jeffrey Charles said in the past the Europeans, whether they were riders or supporters, accounted for the biggest part of the support for the event, which also impacted the tourism market in Tobago.
“They (the Europeans) love Tobago and they love the event, so they would normally come for about two weeks on vacation, and they would spend money and so on, so that tourism is in effect and the island benefits,” Charles told Guardian Media Sports yesterday during an interview about the event.
The absence of the European contingent which features teams and supporters from Germany, Holland, Switzerland, Denmark, and France, was due to the lack of flights from Europe to the sister isle of Tobago.
According to Charles, firstly, the flights are very expensive, somewhere between 900 to 1400 euros, which in T&T dollars is estimated between $6,492.00 to $10,100.00. He noted also that because riders, their families, and fans visit with luggage for the one week of the event, as well as an additional week on vacation, it will be a challenge for them this year to reach Tobago as they have to catch several connecting flights.
Charles explained further that information reaching him is that the German Airline Condor is set to begin providing direct flights to the sister isle but not before November. “That will be too late for me, but it would have been good for the event,” Charles explained.
The event is set to be launched on Wednesday, at Cycling Village Compound, Crown Point, Tobago from 4 pm.
An hour later, after the launch of this year’s edition will be the beginning of the event, a four-stage international race for Division 1 riders; a three-stage open race for Division 2 riders; and a two-stage recreational race for Division 3 riders.
However, Charles was also quick to note that the event will be much bigger than last year which was affected because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
He said the 2022 edition was the smallest in the race’s 35-year history due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Charles said this year’s event will feature about 130 riders in all the divisions, which is an increase from last year’s 80 in all the divisions.
The bulk of the riders, he said, will come from North America, South America, and Central America, and there will also be some riders from the Dominican Republic, among many other countries, Charles explained.
Expected to be featured will be Colombia’s Nicolas Cano, Oscar Pachon, a two-time winner of the UCI Tour of Tobago, as well as Emile Abraham, who made a welcome return to the event last year.
Charles said this year’s event will also feature the largest field of female riders.