More than 90 cyclists comprising a total of 12 teams will kickstart their campaign as the 2013 LBC Ronda Pilipinas rolls off with the 1st Stage in Zamboanga City today.
The third edition of this cash-rich cycling event, which offers P7.5 million in cash prizes, will have riders traversing key cities of the country for a total of 2,200 kilometers in 16 stages, spread over 21 days.
The race will end in Baguio City on Feb. 1 in time for the Panagbenga festival.
For first time since its first staging in 2011, two stages will be held in Cebu. One will start in Lapu-Lapu City on Jan. 18 upon the request of Mayor Paz Radaza, who is continuing her bid to make the city the hub of sports tourism in Cebu Province.
Lapu-Lapu will partner with Be Resorts Mactan in hosting the fifth leg that will take riders from the Lapu-Lapu City Hall to Liloan, Danao, Carmen, Catmon, Sogod, Tabuelan, Tuburan, Asturias, Balamban and end in Busay for a total of 156.8 kilometers.
“With the support of the private sector, our dream of becoming a favored sports tourism destination is starting to come true,” said Mayor Radaza during the press conference held yesterday at the Be Resorts Mactan.
The day before, riders will compete in Stage 4 in Cebu City. The stage will start at the Plaza Independencia passing Talisay, Naga, San Fernando, Carcar, Barili to Toledo then back to Naga and Talisay City and back to Plaza Independencia for a total of 134.2 kilometers. which will take them around the southern part of the province.
Cebu will be fielding one team sponsored by Y101 FM-Cebu and manned by Marvin Tapic and brothers Jaybop and Jhunvie Pagnanawon.
Because only three Cebuanos got past the qualifying stages, the team will be beefed up by Warren Davadilla, Emilito Atilano, Renato Sembrano, Bernard Luzon and Jayjay Tolentino. The team’s manager is Amis Urgel.
Other Cebuanos seeing action but representing PLDT/Spyder team are John Renee Mier and Elmer Navarro.
The rest of the 12 teams are Roadbike Philippines/RTS, American Vynil/LPGMA, Team Hundred Islands/Pangasinan, Philippine Navy/Standard Insurance, Team Ilocos Sur, V.Mobile/Smart, Team One Tarlac, Team Metro Manila/San Miguel, Team Enrile, andTeam Mindanao/Cycle Line Butuan.
The team and individual champions get P1 million each.