Two Cebu cyclists join forces in Dream Tour

Two of the three Cebuano qualifiers in the United Cyclists Association of the Philippines (UCAP) Dream Tour 2006 on April 18-23 will be competing under one team.

Robert Villaver, who competed in the Tour Pilipinas for three consecutive years, but decided to join the UCAP-organized event this year along with the fast rising Jaybop Pagnanawon, is under Team IX of PAGCOR, which will be captained by Lloyd Lucien Reynante.

The other members of Reynante's team are Stalin Benito, Joefrey Talaver, Alfredo Mata and Edward Nardo.

Reynante's team is one of the early favorites to win the overall team championship, making this one big break for Villaver and Pagnanawon.

The other Cebuano, Nilo Barbalose, will be in Team XII.

Team XII will be spearheaded by Benito Lopez, another PAGCOR rider.

With Lopez and Barbalose are Elmer Atillano, Jayson Garillo, Gerald Asiado, Real Dolar and Jay Barrantes.

The six-day Tour is expected to be a very exciting and tough race for the 12 competing teams as they are mostly led by the country's first and only pro squad, the PAGCOR-Casino Filipino.

Victor Espiritu is the team captain for Team VII, Merculio Ramos in Team XI, Bernard Luzon leads Team I, Fernando Alagano in Team II, Albert Primero for Team III, Enrique Domingo in Team IV, Placido Valdez in Team V, Sherwin Diamsey in Team IV, Baler Ravina in Team VIII, Sherwin Camea in Team X.

The Tour starts with the prologue or individual time trial of four kilometers at the Quezon City Circle then proceeds with a massed start race from Quezon City to Olongapo, covering 138 kilometers.

The second day will be covering Olongapo to Candelaria, Zambales with 120k and the day will end with a team time trial for 80k.

The third day to the last day will all be road race covering Alaminos, Pangasinan to Vigan, Vigan to Baguio, and a pint-to-point action in Baguio and it will end with the Baguio to Quezon City race.