Elite cylists representing at least 25 international teams will head the field in the second leg of the PRURide PH 2019 from May 24 to 26 at Subic.
Race organizer Jeremy Go on Tuesday told the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at the Amelie Hotel in Manila they expect riders from Malaysia, Singapore, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Australia, Hong Kong and South Korea.
The country’s top cyclists from Standard Insurance, Go for Gold, and 711 will vie in the three-day event that offers points needed to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Also gracing the weekly forum presented by San Miguel Corp., Tapa King, Amelie Hotel, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming corporation were Filipino riders Marcelo Felipe and Dominic Perez of 711, Ronnel Hualda of Go for Gold, and Jermyn Prado and Jan Paul Morales of Philippine Navy.
Pru Life UK senior vice president Allan Tumbaga said the event is classified as a 2.2 stage race by the Union Cycliste Internatonale.
“This race is very important for Filipino riders because certain points are awarded to stage winners and the top overall finishers,” said race consultant Rick Rodriguez.
“It’s very difficult to qualify to the Olympics where only the top 130 male riders and 67 female riders will qualify in the road race. And they must all come from the top 50 countries,” said Rodriguez.
Right now, the Philippines is in 41st place as it heads to the second leg of the PruRide event as well as future qualifying races for the 2020 Olympics.