MANILA, Philippines – The Padyak Pinoy multi-stage race gets going on May 8 with a promise of another spirited battle for supremacy among the country’s top riders in an eight-stage compact race on most treacherous and challenging roads in Luzon covering 1,500 kms.
A total of 15 teams will vie in the Padyak Pinoy, an off-shoot of the Tour Pilipinas and its predecessor Tour of Luzon, which Air 21 and FedEx Phils sole franchisee Bert Lina revived in 2002.
The event offers a total cash prize package of more than P2 million, excluding other special awards that will be given to deserving and exemplary cyclists.
Stage One will be a criterium race at The Fort in Taguig, where Taguig City Mayor Freddie Tinga will fire the starting gun.
The 2009 edition, organized by Dynamic Outsource Solutions, Inc. (DOS-1), is again presented by Tanduay with Air21, Wow Magic Sing (defending team champion), Burger King, Smart, Talk N Text, Cagrohaus, U-Freight and IWMI as major sponsors.
DOS-1 has obtained the support from local government leaders as well as national government offices such as the Public Works, national police, tourism and health departments and the Metro Manila Development Authority, among others to ensure the successful staging of the event.
“We are bringing the Padyak Pinoy back this summer with the same exciting and competitive flavor its predecessor, the Tour, has been annually providing Filipino sports fans,” said DOS-1 president and Tour organizer Gary Cayton.