Schulting maintains overall lead at Tobago Classic

Peter Schulting (Netherlands/PSL) remains ahead of the field after two legs of the Stage Race of the 2017 Tobago International Cycling Classic (TICC) yesterday.

At the completion of the Second Leg, which started and ended at Old Grange Beach in Mt Irvine, Schulting held on the leader’s yellow shirt after he finished second to Lucas Carstesen (Germany/Embrace The World) in the four lap/26-kilometre race.

Carstesen was first over the line in one hour 56 minutes 39 seconds (1:56.39.0) with Schulting second, fractions behind (1:56.39.7).

The start of the race was in doubt at one moment after early morning rains resulted in debris and land slips falling on the climbs and descents. UCI Chief Commissiare Julie Rodman raised concerns over the safety of the riders and after consulting with the race chairman Jeffrey Charles the course was altered. The original race times were 8 am (Division Two) and 9.30 am (Division One). However, both categories of riders started within five minutes of each other at 10 am with the Division One competitors leading the way.

Jamaican Marloe Rodman (PSL) took the opening lap, outsprinting the Parmaco duo of Jake Silverburg (United States) and Raynauth Jeffrey (Guyana). Rafael Meran (Colombia/Raiders) out dipped Martin Kelderman (Netherlands/PSL) and Winston David (USA/Pharmaco) in a mass rush to the complete the send-lap.

David then similarly took third lap honours from Kelderman and Adderlyn Cruz (Dominican Republic/Raiders). Carstesen raced home with the Second Stage crown edging out Schulting. However, Schulting will enter today’s Plymouth Criterium ahead with 27 points, following the completion of two stages, well ahead of David (18) and Carsten (17).

But David is ahead in the Sprint race with 98 points, while Kelderman is second (71) and Schulting third (68).

In the Division Two, Ronnell Woods (Team Woods) won the two lap/13km race in 1:05.41.18 ahead of Serverin Giebibl (Germany/Veloclub/Ratisbona) 1:05.41.32 and Silvio Innis (Guyana/Rigtech Sonics) 1:05.41.73. Woods leads the standings with 18 points ahead of Linford Blackwood (Jamaica/Pharmaco) and Stage One winner Kemp Orosco both on 17 points.

Stage Three, the Plymouth Criterium, the 50 lap/65km race will be held today. The Division Two riders will do battle over 20 laps/26km and the Division Three over five laps/7km. The qualifying round of Fast and Furious Road Sprint will also be held. The Plymouth Criterium will be streamed live on http://streamevents.tv/articles.

The first race of the Mountain Bike Series will be contested in Table Piece from 7.30 am.