Flying colors for Ironman in Cebu
The Cobra Energy Drink Ironman 70.3 Philippines held in Cebu was ranked second best in the world after Quebec, Canada.
The rating was made by the World Triathlon Corporation (WTC), which promotes and issues licenses for Ironman events.
The Cebu event scored 97.60 points based on feedback from over 2,000 participants who took part in the swim-bike-run races last Aug. 4.
The cheering of spectators and attention to detail of every aspect of the race got the most praise.
The lowest points were scored in road conditions, especially uneven surfaces used by cyclists near the SRP Tunnel in Cebu City.
Princess Galura, Sunrise Events Inc. project director, which organized the Philippine edition, said they did not expect to achieve this feat in just five years of hosting the event in the country.
“We did not even know this formal evaluation was made,” she said.
The group received the official post-event report and shared the good news with the local organizing committee headed by representatives from Cebu Province and the cities of Lapu-Lapu, Mandaue, Cebu and Talisay.
WTC had sent survey forms to more than 2,000 participants and asked them to rate all aspects of the race.
Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza, in a statement, congratulated Oponganons “for putting their best foot forward.” She thanked the thousands of public school students who lined up along the race routes in rainy weather to cheer on athletes, barangays that fielded colorful “vintas”, peacekeepers and residents.
“We will have to outdo ourselves in 2014,” she said.
The Cebu event ranked second to the Ironman 70.3 Mont-Tremblant in Quebec, Canada which hosted its first race in 2012. Canada will host three more next year—the Ironman, Ironman 70.3 and Ironman 70.3 World Championship.
It was Cebu’s second year to host the international triathlon after Camarines Sur was the venue in 2009 to 2010. Athletes this year swam in the open waters of Mactan, biked 90 kilometers through cities of Lapu-lapu, Mandaue, Cebu and Talisay, and finished with a run course in Lapu-Lapu.
Galura said most of the participants praised the attention given to every detail of the race, especially the carbo-loading party hosted by Lapu-Lapu City at Shangri-la’s Mactan Resort and Spa. It included a fast-beat production number with pop-jazz dancers, show violinist Jake Gacanga, a Cebuano DJ and fireworks.
Galura said the immdiate post-event feedback from athletes was that roads were very uneven, especially the roads used by cyclists in the South Reclamation Project tunnel in Cebu City. But the excitment of the crowds was the biggest draw.
“It was the cheering that got me through the race,” said Courtney Atkinson of Austraia, who topped the male professional category. “The highlight for me was the cheering, the crowd and the run through the local community.”
From 400 participants in 2009, the Ironman 70.3 has grown rapidly to 1,700 signing up for the event last year and 2,150 participants last August from 35 countries with about 600 on the waiting list.
Next year, the Ironman 70.3 Philippines will be held on Aug. 3 but preparations will start as early as next month.
