Le Tour de Filipinas: Stern test for Filipino cyclists

By Cedelf P. Tupas
Philippine Daily Inquirer
 
MANILA, Philippines—There’s no guarantee of a Philippine victory in the Le Tour de Filipinas next month despite the Filipino cyclists’ familiarity of the route and terrain.
 
With a crack field of foreigners out to make their presence felt, Filipinos are in for a tough grind in the four-stage 471-kilometer Tour, the first event in the Philippines in 12 years that will be sanctioned by the International Cycling Federation.
 
“The foreign teams are very strong,” said Ric Rodriguez, manager of the vaunted 7/11 squad, one of the 11 local teams that will see action in the bikathon that runs from April 17 to 20. “This is a big test for our Filipino riders.”
 
Giant Racing, Shimano-Japan, Snow Leopard of Mongolia, Vali ASR Kerman of Iran, OCBC Singapore Asia, CKT CH Mixed Team and CCN Holland are expected to give local teams a stern test in the P1.2-million Tour.
 
Though Giant Racing is based in Taipei, most of its members are Europeans led by Irishman David McCann who ruled the recent Tour de Taipei.
 
Filipinos got a sample of foreign might in the recent 2010 Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers Association (LPGMA) Tour of Luzon when the visiting riders swept the top three individual positions led by South African Dennis Van Niekerk.
 
Aside from 7/11, Tanduay, Smart, Air21, Wow Magic Sing, Camsur Dolphins, Camsur Wheelers, Batang Tagaytay, Extra Joss and American Vinyl are fielding teams, said Gary Cayton president of the organizing DOS-1.
 
“Individually, the foreign riders are strong but we are familiar with the route and the weather,” said Rodriguez, whose crack squad will be composed of Victor Espiritu, Lloyd Reynante, Merculio Ramos, Baler Ravina, Sherwin Carrera, Ericson Obosa, Mark Guevarra and rookies Rome Antonio and Nico Cortez.
 
The race opens with the Tagaytay-Tagaytay stage covering 148.9 km. The 60 km second stage will be held at Roxas Boulevard, while Stage 3 is a 142 km grind that will take the riders from Quezon City to Subic. Capping the bikathon is the 60 km Subic to Subic race
 
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