Ayala Land’s Nuvali, a 2,000-hectare prime development in Laguna, has become a destination not only for people who want to experience sustainable living but also for those thrill seekers who enjoy outdoor adventures.
Apart from its amenities designed for people with active lifestyle, Nuvali offers bike tracks and trails system, which include off-road biking and running trails with scenic views of the development’s terrain, perfect for the event it is hosting.
On Nov. 11 to 12, all roads lead to Ayala Land’s sustainable estate in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, as it hosts the 8th edition of Dirt Weekend Bike Festival. A total of 2000 amateur and professional bikers from the provinces are expected to join the fest, a pioneer in bringing world-class cycling formats in the country.
The bike fest is divided into two race categories: the 2017 Cross Country Marathon World Championship Qualifier; and the Nuvali’s signature event, the 35-kilometer Dirt Weekend Cross Country Fun Race, which will have a special “Fat Bike” category.
more balanced lifestyle
The qualifying race is open to cyclists 19 years old and above while the fun race requires participants to be at least 15 years old. For the first category, Nuvali partnered with the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), the governing body on cycling events. The world-champion qualifying race is part of UCI World Marathon Series that allows the top 40 riders to score points for their UCI Mountain Bike Marathon Series ranking.
According to Nuvali General Manager John Estacio, Dirt Weekend has been a growing annual event. He added that the sprawling development is specifically designed to encourage the public to embrace a healthier, more balanced lifestyle.
“Dirt Weekend is a part of a bigger event which we call the Nuvali Outdoor Adventure Program. In our first edition, we had around 500 participants and this year we are expecting at least 2000 bikers. You see, it’s getting bigger each year,” the executive told Manila Standard.
More than just a competition for cyclists, the event also pushes change in mindset in terms of road use and transportation. Nuvali wanted to introduce cycling as the most sustainable mode of transport as it is accessible by almost everyone in any location.
“Mountain biking and the balanced lifestyle we promote here in Nuvali naturally go together. This is close to our heart. Biking is something that is promoted well in Nuvali. We hope to change the attitude of Filipinos about transport. Riding bicycles is a good alternative to driving cars. It is economical and socially sensitive,” Estacio shared.
Nuvali takes the bike fest a step further by serving as venue for world-class competition. It recognizes local talents as well as give local athletes a chance to compete globally. The bike fest will also serve as a venue where fun riders tackle the same course alongside professional elite cyclists.
“Fun riders will have the same experience with elite riders. The only difference is, those under UCI will have a longer trail. And we are having the same level of organization, which means that both the international and local events will be organized in the same fashion,” Estacio concluded.
