MANILA, Philippines - The nation's top cyclists test their limits anew when the inaugural staging of the LBC Ronda Pilipinas, a grueling 20-day competition, begins late September with challenging yet scenic routes serving as background.
At least twelve teams of six cyclists each are expected to vie in the 12-stage tour, which has a total cash prize of P7 million, one of the biggest in years with the individual champion getting P1 million and the team winner also P1million.
Reaching the finish line won't be a walk in the park as the tour, exclusive only for locals, is expected to cover an estimated distance of 1,650 kilometers marked by treacherous terrains, hairpin curves and excruciating mountain climbs.
The tour, sanctioned by the International Cycling Union, starts in Cagayan de Oro and will take the riders to the picturesque landscapes of the western nautical highways, passing through Dumaguete, Iloilo, Aklan, Roxas, Calapan, Batangas, Tarlac, Vigan, Pampanga with the Vigan-Baguio leg considered the as the killer loop.
"Cycling is becoming increasingly popular in the Philippines and we want to give our athletes a venue to train and develop in the sport in preparation for the international competition," Javier Mantecon, LBC senior vice president for marketing said during Wednesday's press briefing at the National Sports Grill at Greenbelt In Makati City.
The Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao qualifying rounds for the event begin in May.
As part of its preparation for the Southeast Asian Games, the Philippine team will see action in the tournament proper, according to Mayor Bambol Tolention of PhilCycling, which is helping Multi Event Enterprise organize the event for the country's leading remittance and courier company.
An executive race open to non-professional male teams of six riders will also be held.
"I trust that this event will soon be one of the biggest events in Asia," said Malaysian Jammaludin Mahmood, an ex-UCI coordinator for Asia who will oversee the event.
LBC COO Fernando Araneta, appearing alongside LBC CEO Santiago Araneta in the same press conference said they are hoping that the event will be included in the Asian Cycling Confederation calendar in three years time.
Aside from the promotion of the sport, Fernando Araneta said the event is aimed at spreading LBC's Go Green Advocacy which is the company's switch to biodegradable delivery pouches replacing their non-biodegradable plastics. To cut down on emissions, Araneta also said they plan to convert their motorized delivery fleet to electric power and by next year into bicycles.
