Riders, bikes rusty as RP Tour nears

Philippine Tour organizers, who have finally been assured of the logistics, are facing an equally big problem -- lack of qualified cyclists -- with barely less than two months before the start of the revived summer spectacle.

"The cyclists are rusty, so are their bicycles," noted an organizer, who requested anonymity.

Of over 50 who went through the daily trials at the Quezon City oval, only 10 have so far qualified. Organizers said former champion Bernardo Llentada and tour veteran Placido Valdez led the first qualifiers while former titleholders Carlo Guieb and Renato Dolosa are making their individual workouts to make the grade.

Cornelio Padilla, named by the International Cycling Union (UCI) to organize the Philippine Tour, is conducting daily trials to determine the 100 qualifiers who will form the 10 local teams which will compete with international teams for the team and individual honors in the summer show to be dubbed "Philippine Tour".

Failure of top local cyclists to qualify for the 100 slots could force the organizers to reduce the qualifying time, making this year's inaugural Philippine tour a battle among international teams.

The Philippine team, which placed 14th in the Tour de Langkawe held Jan. 26-Feb. 4 in Langkawe, Malaysia, looks as the top favorite anew to romp off with the team title.

Included in the team, which also finished second in East Asia in the Malaysia tournament, are 1998 champion Warren Davadilla, 1997 titlist Victor Espiritu and veteran Enrique Domingo.

The Philippine Tour, erstwhile known as the Marlboro Tour, was discontinued in 1998 after the sponsoring Philip Morris, Inc. withdrew its sponsorship following advertising problems here and abroad.

The organizers failed to get major sponsors to put up a package of P60-M to run the event.

The tour will be held tentatively a week after the Holy Week.