Pangasinan riders vie inVictorey Tour

STA. BARBARA, Pangasinan — The Victorey Tour de Tercero (General Reynaldo Velasco Cycling Classic), featuring 80 of Pangasinan’s premier professional and amateur cyclists, will be held tomorrow with the event traversing six towns and a city in the province.

This was announced by race director Jesus Garcia Jr., former Tour of the Philippines three-time cycling champion, who described the 168-kilometer cycling race as "one of the biggest and most prestigious races" he has handled so far with the entry of San Miguel Corporation, Coca-Cola Bottlers, Inc., Ginebra San Miguel and Mr. D Park as major sponsors.

The race will start and end at the town of Sta. Barbara passing the municipalities of Malasiqui, Bayambang, Basista, San Carlos City, Calasiao, Mapandan, back to Sta. Barbara, then Malasiqui again, Bayambang, Basista, San Carlos City, Calasiao, Mapandan, then back to Sta. Barbara anew for the finish with an approximate distance of 168 kilometers.

Garcia lauded Deputy Director General Reynaldo Velasco, a retired three-star police general and a native son of Sta. Barbara, who is behind the Victorey Tour cycling classic as a means to help regain Pangasinan’s supremacy in the country’s annual summer sports spectacle.

It is also set to promote the on-going anti-drug movement called KAPANALIG (Kabataang Panlalawigan Laban sa Ipinagbabawal Na Gamot) which his group has started since early this year.

In a press conference last week at the Banaoang Central Elementary School, Velasco stressed that getting into sports or supporting it is always a good investment especially for the youth. — With report from Cesar Ramirez