TWO long and flat routes will make the 2016 Le Tour de Filipinas an interesting race when it kicks off with a four-stage edition and heads south starting on Feb. 18 from Antipolo City to Legazpi City in Albay.
Filipino riders from three local clubs will be familiar with the terrain and are expected to be as competitive as the 12 foreign squads competing.
“For the foreign teams, it’s their unfamiliarity with the route on Day 2 and 3, which will be challenging. They are long. One is more than 200 kilometers. And they’re flat,” said Atty. Ding Cruz, one of the commissaires of the race.
Cruz talked about the challenges of the bikefest during a press conference Monday the Luxent Hotel in Timog Ave., Quezon City.
Stage One of the race, which is supported by MVP Sports Foundation, Smart, Petron, will have 75 cylists negotiating past a 153-km ride from Antipolo City to Lucena City in Quezon.
Here, the “tatlong eme” uphill climb in Atimonan is expected to test the endurance of each participant.
Then, the 204-km Stage 2 from Lucena City to Daet, Camarines Norte takes place from Feb. 19, before the 187-km course the following day from Daet to Legazpi City in Albay.
Stage Four follows on Feb. 21 and cyclists will go around Mayon Volcano twice on an out-and-back route in Legazpi City. It will cover 147 kilometers.
Frenchman Thomas Lebas will be around to defend the general classification crown he won last year.
He will lead the Japan-based Bridgestone Anchor team, which are among the 12 foreign squads. Other foreign teams are Minsk (Belarus), Skydive Dubai (UAE), Team Ukyo(Japan), Novo Nordisk (USA) and Global (Holland).
There’s also Sauerland (Germany), LX IIBS (Korea), Korail Continental (Korea), Terrangganu (Malaysia), Attaque Team Gusto (Taiwan) and Black Inc. (Laos).
The Philippine team is made up of Roland Oranza, John Mark Camingao, George Oconer and Ronald Lomotos, while 7-Eleven Road Bike Philippines will have Baler Ravina, Marcelo Felipe, Jay Lampawog, Spanish rider Edgar Nieto and Australian Jesse James Ewart.
Cebu’s Team Kopiko will be led by Ronald Hualda and John Mier.
National team rider Mark Galedo will miss the race as Team 7-Eleven is reserving him for the Tour de Langkawi from Feb. 24 to March 2 in Malaysia.
Langkawi organizers have moved the schedule to give way to the Philippine bikefest, according UBE Media president and chief organizer Donna May Lina.