Mark Galedo is looking forward to another crown in this year’s Le Tour de Filipinas.
And he could take the glory away from defending champion El Joshua Cariño.
“Kung may pagkakataon. Bakit hindi. Sana maulit. Ito ang tsansa ko na makalaro ulit,” said Galedo, who last won it in 2014.
Now riding for Celeste Cycle, Galedo gets ready to see action when the five-day Le Tour de Filipinas 2019 cycling competitions fires off on Friday in Tagaytay City.
Cariño, who will don the national team jersey and won’t ride for Standard Insurance-Philippine Navy, will be looking for a second straight title, and as he prepares for the 30th Southeast Asian Games.
“Mas matindi ang karera ngayon. Pero, handa kami,” said Cariño.
Stage 1 on Friday will be a short and demanding 129.5-kilometer Stage 1 on an out-and-back course in Tagaytay City.
After that, 75 riders from 15 teams will be in for a bigger challenge in Stage 2.
And that’s the 194.9-km ride from Pagbilao, Quezon, to Daet, Camarines Norte.
The second lap, the Le Tour’s longest route, is considered by most experts as the “killer lap,” even as organizers celebrate the 10th year anniversary of the bikefest.
This Category 2.2 event is sanctioned by the International Cycling Union (UCI).
Stage 3 on June 16 will be 183.7 kilometers from Daet to Legazpi City.
The day after, Stage 4 will cover 176 kilometers from Legazpi City via Sorsogon and Gubat and back to the Albay capital.
Stage Five 5 will also be an out-and-back route in Legazpi City.
But this time it will be via Donsol in Sorsogon for a total of 145.8 kilometers—a crucial final leg where the cyclists will have to endure pedaling over rolling hills while facing strong winds.
