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75 cyclists to join Le Tour de Filipinas

By Jean Malanum

May 28, 2019, 4:55 pm

MANILA -All is set for the staging of the prestigious Le Tour de Filipinas next month.

Sanctioned by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), the 2.2 category race offering a total cash purse of PHP1.5 million will be participated in by 75 riders from 11 international and four local teams.

The event will kick off on June 14 with the 129.50-kilometer Stage 1 on an out-and-back route with some climbs in Tagaytay City, Cavite. From there, the riders will move to Lucena City, Quezon Province where they will stay overnight for the next day's Stage 2 covering 194 kilometers starting from Pagbilao town to Daet, Camarines Norte.

Stage 3 is a 183.70-kilometer race from Daet to Legazpi City, Albay while the next stage on June 17 will cover 176 kilometers from Legazpi City via Gubat, Sorsogon and back to the Albay capital.

The fifth and final stage is also an out-and-back race in Legazpi City but via Donsol, Sorsogon for a total of 145.80 kilometers.

"The Le Tour de Filipinas continues its advocacy in promoting international peace, goodwill, health, tourism and environment. And to emphasize this advocacy, the race has been elevated to five stages," said Le Tour de Filipinas chairperson, Donna May Lina, during the event's formal launching at the Passion Restaurant in Resorts World Manila on Tuesday.

For nine years, the Le Tour de Filipinas was staged for four days, reaching as far north in Pagudpod, Ilocos Norte to deep south in Sorsogon.

"It's the 10th year and like in previous editions, the riders will face challenges the elements offer, thus, squeezing out the best of the best in this sports spectacle on two wheels," Lina said.

The four local squads competing are the Philippine Team, 7-Eleven Cliqq Air 21 Roadbike Philippines, Go For Gold, and Bike X Philippines.

Defending champion El Joshua Carino will banner the Philippine Team. He won last year's title representing Philippine Navy-Standard Insurance. Carino is the third Filipino to win the Le Tour de Filipinas after Baler Ravina (2012) and Mark John Lexer Galedo (2014).

Marcelo Felipe, who will banner the 7-Eleven team, is also eyeing the title as he is coming off a victory at the PRURide PH, a UCI-sanctioned 2.2. event held in Subic on May 24-26. He was overall champion and took the Best Filipino Rider and King of the Mountain awards.

"I will try my best to win," said the 29-year-old Marcelo, a native of Llanera, Nueva Ecija. He is the best-ranked Filipino in the UCI world rankings at No. 1021. (PNA)

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