MANILA, Philippines - The second LBC Ronda Pilipinas, the biggest cycling spectacle of the decade, hits the road on May 20 with bigger prizes and a longer route that will take the riders on a 20-day journey through most of the Pan Philippine Highway, from Sarangani in Mindanao to Northern Luzon and back to Manila.
The 2012 version, sponsored anew by the LBC Express Inc., the country’s leading courier firm, will have four stops in Mindanao, two in the Visayas and nine in Luzon, from the Bicol Region to Southern Tagalog, and from the metropolis to Central and Northern Luzon.
The riders will drive back to Manila in their final push for glory at the end of a 2,000km race against the elements for the coronation of the 2012 individual champion who will receive P1million in cash, the team winner which will earn another P1 million and other individual and team placers who will receive their share of the total cash pot of over P7.5 million.
With the prizes up from P7 million the previous year and a route three stages more than last year’s, the organizing LBC Express, Inc. expects more intense competition, making last year’s champion Santi Barnachea a marked man, given the eight-month preparation of top contenders who started road work after a brief respite from the October 2011 tour.
Jack Yabut, race director of the 2012 LBC Ronda, said that although they are still eyeing 16 competing teams, they are also inviting other commercial squads aside from defending champion American Vinyl and 7-Eleven.
“The format is still regional but we are also inviting other local commercial teams out there to join the 2012 Ronda Pilipinas to make the race more competitive and exciting,” he added.
The 2012 tour will have a prologue, an individual time trial in Sarangani, that will kick off the 15 regular stages.
The first four stages will be held in Mindanao starting with the opening stage in General Santos City all the way to Kiamba and back. Stage 2 will take the Gen. Santos-Davao City route, Stage 3 will be from Tagum to Butuan and Stage 4 from Butuan to Surigao,.
The Visayas tour will take the riders from Ormoc to Tacloban (Stage 5) and Tacloban to Calbayog (Stage 6).
The remaining nine stages will be a Tour of Luzon, from the Bicol Region to Southern Tagalog, National Capital Region all the way up to Central Luzon and Baguio in Northern Luzon and back to NCR.
The routes covered are Legaspi to Naga (Stage 7), Daet to Lucena (Stage 8), Lucena to Antipolo (Stage 9), San Fernando, Pampanga to Cabanatuan, (Stage 10), Cabanatuan to Lingayen (Stage 11), Lingayen to Baguio (Stage 12), another time trial in Baguio (Stage 13), San Fernando, La Union to Tarlac (Stage 14) and Valenzuela to Manila (Stage 15) on June 10.
For more details, visit www.rondapilipinas.com or follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/rondapilipinas and twitter www.twitter/rondapilipinas.