Easter Grand Prix hangs in the balance
By
Kern De Freitas
Story Created:
Mar 20, 2013 at 11:56 PM ECT
Story Updated:
Mar 20, 2013 at 11:56 PM ECT
The annual cycling Easter Grand Prix is in danger of being cancelled, as the Trinidad and Tobago Cycling Federation is still $500,000 short of bringing off the event next week.
The Grand Prix, one of the most anticipated events on the local cycling calendar, is scheduled to pedal off on Good Friday, March 29, at Arima Velodrome. It will also travel to Skinner Park in San Fernando, before returning to Arima Velodrome on the final day of the three-day competition.
So far, several big names are on the list of appearances for the Grand Prix. T&T ace rider Njisane Phillip and his Rig Tech Sonics teammate Varun Maharajh will suit up for T&T, with the rest of the team to be named after this weekend.
And Phillip's fellow Olympian and rival Hersony Canelon of Venezuela, Colombia's Santiago Ramirez and Canadian Stephane Cossette are also waiting for confirmation to join the field of riders. But this may be moot if the TTCF cannot come up with the money to pull off the event.
So far Petrotrin and National Lotteries Control Board have stepped up to contribute, but the TTCF has only gotten $150,000 of the $650,000 budget needed to run the competition.
The Express has also learned that the Federation will be seeking a meeting with Minister of Sport Anil Roberts in hopes of getting assistance to save the Grand Prix.
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