Davadilla eyes Tour repeat

Manila Bulletin - Saturday, March 27
 
Twelve years ago, Warren Davadilla toppled some of Asia's best riders to rule the 1998 Marlboro Centennial Tour which proved to be the last time the foreigners competed in the event.
 
Now at age 35, former two-time tour champion Davadilla will try to make a repeat of that feat against some international riders in the Le Tour de Filipinas which kicks off next month in Tagaytay City.
 
Davadilla said he's excited that seven foreign teams are competing in this four-day race that will start in Tagaytay City and will end in Subic.
 
"Yung sinasabi nilang maraming foreign teams, yung talagang sasali dito e mga money maker. Kung alam nila na kaya nilang manalo dadayuhin talaga nila," said Davadilla, who hails from Malabon, but now residing in Valenzuela.
 
The foreign teams that have confirmed their participation are Shimano Racing Team, OCBC Singapore, Snow Leopard of Mongolia, Vali ASR Kerman of Iran, CKT-CH Mixed Team, Giant Asia Racing Team and Cycling Team CCN of Holland.
 
"Ang maganda kasi sa kanila nakakasali sila sa mga event sa European countries. Hindi tulad tayong mga Filipino riders na dito lang so medyo mahihirapan," said Davadilla.
 
In 1998, the then-23 year-old Davadilla dethroned Wong Kam Po of Hong Kong to snare the Marlboro crown.
 
"Yung mga kasali sa time na yun mga riders talaga na sumasali sa mga European events," said Davadilla, who clocked 64 hours, 58 minutes and 57 seconds in that 19-stage race.
 
Other local riders that will join this race are two-time champion Santy Barnachea, Irish Valenzuela and reigning tour winner Joel Calderon.
 
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