Ex-champs lead Pinoys bid in Le Tour

MANILA, Philippines - Grizzled and battle-tested cyclists, among them former champions, will lead the local challenge in the 2012 Le Tour de Filipinas presented by Air21 that hits the road up north from April 14 to 17.

Two-time Tour champion Santy Barnachea (2002 FedEx Express Tour and 2007 Padyak Pinoy) skippers the Go21 team and will have on his side 2003 Tour Pilipinas titlist Arnel Quirimit in the four-stage race that will be staged in partnership with Smart and supported by Foton and Jinbei.

The Mail and More squad of triathlete Joselito Lontok will be captained by 2009 Padyak Pinoy titlist Joel Calderon, who will draw support on the Neil Barlis-mentored team from Oscar Rendole, Nicanor Guanzon, Alfredo Asuncion and Rey Martin.

The Smart-PhilCycling national team will be bannered by Lloyd Lucien Reynante, who will have with him 2009 LPGMA Tour of Luzon winner John Mark Galedo in the Union Cycliste Internationale-sanctioned race organized by the Dynamic Outsourse Solutions, Inc.

Completing the cast of Rep. Arnel Ty’s American Vinyl-LPGMA team coached by two-time Tour champion Renato Dolosa are Cris Joven, Ronnel Hualda, Rudy Roque and 2011 Asian Juniors Road Race bronze medalist Rustom Lim, while rounding out the Smart-Phl squad mentored by multi-medaled internationalist Norberto Oconer are Tomas Martinez, Lito Atilano and Ronald Gorantes.

Certified Mountain King Baler Ravina, Ericcson Obosa and Sherwin Carrera complete the Johnny Borja-coached Go21 squad in the race supported by WetShop (official wear), Airphil Express (official airline) and dzRH (official radio).