Final preparations are underway as Cebu City hosts the Asia Pacific Cobra Ironman 70.3 next month. This will be the first time it will be held outside Australia, and already the city is out to prove why international athletes have dubbed the Cebu event as the “Hollywood of Triathlon.”
At the grand press launch held at Shangri-la The Fort, the Sinulog vibe was already in full swing with guests being served some of the most famous dishes from Cebu, complete with a “lechon parade” and a Sinulog dance performance to kick off the program.
Star-studded Race
“On August 7, 2016, we’ll be accommodating over 2,900 athletes from 43 countries, marking the biggest triathlon in the history of the Philippines,” Wilfred Uytengsu, founder of the organizing Sunrise Events, Inc. said in his speech.
“We will assemble the largest cast of professional triathletes – over 30, many of whom are world champions competing and preparing not just for the rights to be Asia Pacific champion but also for the world championships in Australia set a few months after the race,” he added.
Titleholders Tim Reed and Caroline Steffen will banner a world-class roster of 35 professional triathletes that will also feature 2,869 equally determined competitors in the Filipino elite, CEOs, age groups and relay divisions.
Many local celebrities are also expected to join the race including Matteo Guidicelli, Piolo Pascual, Dingdong Dantes as well as the Voice of the Philippines coach Apl.De.Ap , actor Paul Jake Castillo, broadcasters Gretchen Fullido, Kim Atienza, and Dyan Castillejo, Ivan Carapiet, Bubbles Paraiso, Xander Angeles, Anthony and Maricel-Laxa Pangilinan, Sara Black, Gilbert Remulla and Uytengsu himself.
Anticipation for the prestigious event has been high since it was announced last year and the event sold out 2,900 slots in 28 minutes when registration opened in October 2015. Some 500 more are still on the waitlist.
Produced and organized by Sunrise Events and backed by Cobra Energy Drink as Title Sponsor with Ford as Presenting Sponsor, the 1.9K swim, 90K bike, 21K run race will also offer the biggest prize money ever in the Philippines at $75,000 and the highest points earned.
Uytengsu was joined at the launch by Hubert Tan, President, Commercial Division of Asia Brewery Inc., Ford Philippines managing director Lance Mosley, Tourism Promotions Board COO Domingo Ramon Enerio III, Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza, Cebu Provincial Administrator Mark Tolentino, Globe Telecom VP for content Jill Go, Shangri-La Mactan director of sales Natalia Zotova, and renowned designer Kenneth Cobonpue, who once more designed the medals for the winners. The event was hosted by Chiqui Reyes and actor/triathlete Matteo Guidicelli himself a pride of Cebu.
Hollywood Of Triathlon Events
In 2014, organizer Sunrise Events Inc. was awarded the Gold Standard for IronMan70.3 in by the World Triathlon Corporation and the Cebu Leg was ranked second in the world in terms of participant satisfaction. Now Cobra ironman 70.3 Cebu has been dubbed Crown Jewel of Asia and even called the Hollywood of Triathlon because of its roster of high-profile athletes and the festive atmosphere throughout the race.
Tim Reed, 2015 Cobra Energy Drink Ironman 70.3 Philippines Champion, says, “The ‘Best Atmosphere Award’ goes to Ironman 70.3 Philippines. “So far ahead of the other races in the category, this race also takes 2nd and 3rd place. Honestly, you’re truly suffering in Kona like heat and humidity but unable to stop smiling the entire way because of the absolutely crazy support out on course. The bike course is lined five to six people deep while the half marathon is an audio-visual sensory overload of music, dancing and thousands of screaming people.”
“When we started our little “Woodstock event” in Camsur in 2009, never in my wildest imagination did I think we would be here eight years later to host the biggest one of the biggest IronMan events, said Uytengsu.
“Looking back, what impresses me most is the growth of the sport. When we began there were just a couple of hundred participants and you could recognize everyone because it was just a small group. Now, there are thousands of people participating with a lot of new faces, many of whom are joining for the first time,” the CEO/triathlete recalled.
The event backed by Ford as presenting sponsor, Globe Telecom as official wireless and broadband services partner, Philippine Airlines, Summit Water, Department of Tourism, Tourism Promotions Board, 2Go Express (official courier and logistics partner), Asics, Gatorade, Mactan Resort and Spa, Cebu Province, Lapu Lapu City, Cebu City, Talisay City, Prudential Guarantee, Oakley and Timex will offer 50 slots to the 2017 Ironman 70.3 World Championships in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
“Year on year, we dream bigger, we grow stronger and we aim to achieve greater heights. For eight years we’re able to successfully grow and build a community of enthusiasts who dare to push their mind, body and spirit to its limit. And on this year, first time in the history of Ironman 70.3 that the Asia Pacific Championship is outside Australia. We celebrate and share this moment of well-deserved success with everyone behind Cobra Ironman,” said Tan.
“Now we have the chance to shine and achieve greater goal world class event show the world why “Triathlon is more fun in the Philippines,” ended Uytengsu.
The action will be aired live on www.ironman.com courtesy of Globe Telecom.