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Venezuelan Freddy Vargas ran away with the second stage of the Tobago International Cycling Classic in just over three hours, in Tobago, yesterday.
In the four-lap 100km circuit, Vargas took the lead with two laps remaining and pulled away to beat the field in three hours four minutes and 22.46 seconds (3:04.22.46).
Felix Cruz Colon (Dominican Republic/Team Foundation) was a long way back in second (3:07.20.33) ahead of Colombian Alirio Martinez (Colombia/Club de Ciclismo) in 3:07.45.74.
The gruelling terrain in stage two got the better of the competitors as only 23 of the 92 riders completed the course. All the local riders were among the non-finishers which included former winner Emile Abraham. Stage one fourth place finisher Varun Maharajh was also among the non finishers for T&T, along with Joshua Alexander and Guy Costa. Former multiple Carifta middle distance champion Gavyn Nero (Team Foundation) similarly did not cross the finish line for the second straight stage.
Despite his top finish Vargas was not able to claim the overall leader yellow jersey as he was only 33rd in stage one. Jamaican Marlo Rodman, who finished tenth yesterday and third in stage one is the overall leader after stage two. Stage one winner Norlandy Sanchez (Dominican Republic/Team Foundation) was lucky to remain in third overall as he did not finish stage two.
Stage two was much kinder to the division two local cyclists as Tyler Cole (Rigtech Sonics/T&T) completed the two-lap event in 1:43.24.92 ahead of Tobagonian Kenvern Brathwaite (PSL) in 1:44.23.33 and Guyana’s Romello Crawford (PSL) in 1:47.43.22. Brathwaite is the overall leader ahead of Emmanuel Watson (T&T/PSL) and Cole.
The action shifts to the Mountain Bike series today with race one at Courland Estate from 7.30 am. Stage three will be held in Plymouth from 1 pm, tomorrow. The fourth and final stage is set for Scarborough at 8.30 am on Saturday. The 2015 Tobago International Cycling Classic will culminate with the UCI (International Cycling Union) 1.2 Tour of Tobago at Scarborough, from 7.30 am on Sunday.
Overall Leaders:
Division One
1 Marlo Rodman (Jamaica/PSL) - 36 points
2 Freddy Vargas (Venezuela) - 35 points
3 Norlandy Sanchez (Dominican Republic/Team Foundation - 35 points
4 Adderlyn Felix Cruz Colon (Dominican Republic/Team Foundation) - 30 points
7 Varun Maharajh (T&T/PSL) - 20 points
14 Emile Abraham (T&T/Lupus) - 15 points
16 Joshua Alexander (T&T/Team Foundation) - 14 points
