Millionaire to emerge from LBC Ronda Pilipinas race

Manila, Philippines - A record purse of P7 million is in the offing for 96 riders chosen from five regional and provincial eliminations when they clash for fame and fortune in the first LBC Ronda Pilipinas which hits the road in September in Cagayan de Oro City.

A brand-new millionaire will emerge from the elite cast as he goes home with a tax-free P1 million champion’s purse at the end of the 20-day, 12-stage race that will end in the metropolis after 10 stops in key cities in the country’s three major islands.

Fernando Araneta, president of the sponsoring LBC Express, Inc., the country’s leading courier firm, said the event, the biggest since the 1998 Marlboro Tour, will test both man and machine in various road and weather conditions on a route that spans a total of 1,650 km.

“The LBC Ronda Pilipinas is the biggest challenge for the country’s riders in the last 12 years; it will be the biggest revival of nationwide tour,” Araneta said. “The name of the game is speed and consistency, which are the hallmarks of our company business.”

A total of P2.4 million is at stake in the individual classification, with the second placer winning P.5 million, third P250,000, fourth P125,000, fifth P100,000, sixth P90,000, seventh P80,000, eighth P70,000, ninth P60,000, 10th P50,000, 11th-15th places P10,000 each and 16th-20th places P5,000 each.

All 16 participating teams win a prize in the team classification which has a total pot of P2,545,000, with the champion receiving P1 million, second P500,000, third P250,000, fourth P100,000, fifth P90,000, sixth P80,000, seventh P75,000, eighth P70,000, ninth P65,000, 10th P60,000, 11th P55,000 and 12th-16th P50,000 each.

Also at stake are stage prizes amounting to P1,566,000 with daily stage prizes of P130,500 going to the top 20 placers. The winner in each stage gets P50,000, second P25,000, third P15,000 and fourth P10,000.

Prizes in the team time trial are P50,000 and P25,000 for the top two finishers, and P12,500 to P2,000 for third to 12th placers.

The top three in the Best Young Rider and King of the Mountain competitions will earn P50,000, P30,000, and P20,000, respectively.

Araneta said all prizes will be tax-free.