Tenth Anniversary for Beacon Cycling Festival
The Beacon West Indies versus the World Cycling Series celebrates its tenth anniversary next year and title sponsors Beacon have maintained their support of the event despite the global economic downturn, replicating their $700,000 sponsorship of this year.
Re-branded the Beacon Trinidad and Tobago Cycling Festival - ’A new Culture of Cycling’, the 2010 edition of the international cycling event will pedal off from April 15-25 and will cost about $1.25 million in total.
The trend of a re-branded Beacon cycling team which will comprise cyclists from the Caribbean and around the world from countries like Argentina, USA, Germany, Spain, England, Australia, France and Greece will continue.
Some of the regional riders will hail from Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, St Lucia and Suriname.
Gerald Hadeed, chief executive of title sponsors, the Beacon Insurance Company Ltd, said he was proud of the influence the series had in the revival and rebuilding of the sport and added that the symbolism of his company’s name meant that, despite the world financial crisis, it was an easy decision to throw their support behind the event for the tenth consecutive year.
’Cycling has come a long way and therefore we at the Beacon are happy to be associated with the event,’ he stated at Wednesday’s launch.
Managing director of Phillips Promotions Ltd, Michael Phillips, said he was proud to have sustained a good relationship with the Beacon and said the event for the first time will feature action at King George V Park, St Clair.
Phillips also disclosed that next year’s event will have a legacy trait, with track races being named after some of the country’s prominent cyclists.
This, he said will be done to recognise the ex-cyclists for their contribution to the sport. The names will be attached onto the events in which the former national cyclists excelled.
In addition, Phillips and his team will also be focussing on helping sport tourism in Trinidad and Tobago.
2010 Beacon Trinidad and Tobago Cycling Festival schedule:
- April 15-Series Opening Night 14-lap Road Event, Queen’s Park Savannah, 8 p.m.
- April 17-Track Events, Skinner Park, 5 p.m.
- April 18-Track Events, Arima Velodrome, 4 p.m.
- April 22-45-lap Road Event, Dwight Yorke Stadium, Tobago, 4 p.m.
- April 25-Series Closing Night-40-lap Road Event, King George V park, 2 p.m.
By Mark Pouchet, Trinidad Express |
