With the ongoing inspection of the race routes almost done, organizers bringing are bringing in emergency medical teams to address accidents and other health concerns in the coming revival of the Tour of Luzon.
Organizers talked about the ongoing medical preparations after the Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC) and Duckworld PH formally signed an agreement on Monday with Cardinal Santos Medical Center (CSMC) in San Juan.
The agreement will ensure the health and safety of all participants through the hospital’s expertise and facilities.
“We did not think twice in doing this collaboration, knowing that this event will be a successful one,” said Duckworld top executive Patrick Gregorio.
CMSC will offer onsite emergency care, first aid stations, transport services and an immediate response team.
The hospital is offering a range of services, from excellent sports medicine and wellness products and services through its Sports Medicine Institute.
CMSC president and CEO Raul Pagdanganan said that “the partnership enables them to apply their expertise that will not only help in responding to health and safety needs of the athletes and participants, but more so aid in the athletes’ optimal condition to compete.”
The 15-team Tour of Luzon, which was last held in 2019 as the Le Tour de Filipinas, will have eight stages covering seven provinces, with the support of telecommunications’ executive Manny Pangilinan.
“It’s going very smoothly with the commissaires on the ground. It’s 75 percent complete,” said Duckworld executive director Francis Diaz.
Action is slated from April 24 to May 1, with Navy-Standard Insurance Philippines set to bring back its riders, who dominated the bikefest in 2019, along with rivals from 7-Eleven Roadbike Philippines, Victoria Cycling Team, Go-For-Gold and Philippine Army.
Also coming in are riders from Excellent Noodles, D’ Reyna, Dandex Multi-Sports and MPT DriveHub.
Provincial team Tagaytay City-Tom N Toms Toms, Nueva Vizcaya, Davao and Cebu are also taking part with the National Under-23 team.
Foreign riders from the Singapore National Team, the ASC Monsters of Indonesia, the Vietnam National Team and Thailand are also listed.
The team champion will receive P1 million and a year’s possession of the Tour of Luzon Perpetual Trophy.