Le Tour de Filipinas magsisimula bukas

MANILA, Philippines - Kumpiyansa ang pi­nu­­no ng Asian Cycling Con­­federation (ACC) sa matagumpay na pagda­raos ng Le Tour de Filipi­nas na nakatakdang pakakawalan ang pang-limang edisyon bukas sa Clark, Pam­panga.

“The organizing committee in the Philippines, which is coming up to become one of the cycling powers in Asia, would be able, as in last year, to put up one of the memorable races of the Le Tour,” sabi ni ACC president Cho Hee Wok ng Korea.

Si Cho, katapat ni International Cycling Union (UCI) president Brian Cookson, ay tatlong beses nang ginagabayan ang ACC at sinusubaybayan ang Le Tour de Filipinas.

Ibinigay niya ang kan­yang basbas sa naturang four-stage race simula nang ito ay ilunsad noong 2010.

“The Asia Tours have played a driving force be­hind cycling activities organized in every country and are also key elements in the development of cycling sports in our member countries, Asia and the world as well,” ani Cho.

“These two factors would be in themselves be very sufficient to describe the importance of the 2014 Le Tour de Fi­lipinas organized in the Phi­lippines,” dagdag pa ng ACC chief.

Sisimulan ang 2015 Le Tour de Filipinas, ini­hahandog ng Air21 bilang advocacy ni cycling god­father at PhilCycling  chairman Alberto Lina, sa pamamagitan ng 160-kilometer race mu­la sa Clark hanggang sa Olon­ga­po City para sa Stage One.

Sa Stage Two sa Mar­tes ay susuungin naman ng mga siklista ang 170-km race mula sa Olongapo City papunta ng Cabanatuan City kasunod ang 146.6-km Stage Three galing sa Cabana­tuan City patungong Ba­yombong, Nueva Visca­ya.

Sa Stage Four, sasa­gu­pain ng mga riders ang 134-km roller-coaster race buhat sa Burnham Park sa Baguio City.

“Let’s again brace our­­selves for another ex­ci­ting edition of the Le Tour as Asia’s—and even the world’s—best are in town to take on not only the Filipino riders but also to try to conquer the challenge of our route,” sabi ni Lina.

Kabuuang 15 teams —ang 13 dito ay mga fo­reign teams at dalawa ay local squads — ang ma­kikita sa aksyon, ayon sa gru­po nina Le Tour de Fi­lipinas team coordinator Alma Lumibao, Joel Go­layan, Egay Lorenzo, Haggie Narag at Joel David at ng co-organizer na Ube Media.

Ang bawat koponan sa Le Tour de Filipinas, su­portado rin ng Smart, NLEX, SCTEX, TPLEX, BCDA, Petron, Victory Liner at M. Lhuillier, ay may tig-limang siklista.