Phillippe Leroy leads last year's tour in the early stages before winning.

TORTOLA—The 11th Tour de Tortola on Sunday, will offer visiting cyclists from Antigua and the U.S. Virgin Islands, as well as their local counterparts a different challenge, head of the BVI Cycling Federation David Thomas said.

“We have been kicking around the idea for sometime and have decided to send the race in reverse,” Thomas said, noting the plan was to do it during last year’s 10th anniversary. “We sat down a recently and said it would be nice to have the race done, as it would present a whole different challenge. In the past, we did all of the flat section early, which suited the sprinters, before all the climbing began,” Thomas noted. “There were four short hills that killed you on your way back from the airport. But, this time around you have a good 12 miles of flat roads to the finish. Some of the guys who can’t compete on the hills have a chance to try and chase the field, so we could actually be in for a group finish for the first time in the Tour de Tortola.”

Thomas said response to the idea has been favorable, although some of the Antiguan cyclists who learnt of the changes were disappointed because 3-time champ Robert Marsh is attempting to better John Miller’s course record. They are now excited Thomas said, because they will get a chance to establish a new record. “A lot of our guys have been intrigued by the fact that they don’t have to climb Windy Hill, but, I think it still presents another set of challenges. You now have longer climbs,” Thomas explained. “They might be easier because they are not short and steep. It should be a good five to eight miles of climbing from the time they leave the Beef Island Bridge until they get to Sky World.”

Starters in the Tour de Tortola

Thomas is happy Marsh is returning to the tour, but is disappointed that defending champ Phillippe Leroy is not in condition and Chris Ghiorse will be skipping the race. He said however, Al Gauchi, Mark Bailey and Neil Thomas should be able to give Marsh a good challenge. “He is a good all around climber, so this race may actually be suited towards him, so I could be really interesting this time around,” Thomas said.

The race starts at 7 a.m. at the entrance to the Moorings on Wichams Cay II, by the Ole Clarence Thomas Ltd. The registration fee is $25 per person and includes lunch following the race.

© Copyright 2003 BVI Cycling Federation

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