Ronda a test of endurance, desire

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines  â€“ With the Baguio-to-Baguio stage back after getting scrapped last year and a couple of punishing ascents in Cebu and up north added this year, premium will be on endurance and climbing skills when the LBC Ronda Pilipinas 2013 fires off tomorrow here.

The Stage 5 in Cebu features a steep climb in the final stretch, so does the Tarlac-Subic Stage 7 through the mountainous Morong gateway while the Tuguegarao-Solano Stage 13, the longest at 205kms with ascents in the final stretch, will test the field’s staying power and toughness.

With the organizers of the event, put up by leading courier firm LBC Express Inc., adding three Baguio legs – the Bayombong-Baguio Stage 14, Pugo-Baguio stage 15 and the Baguio-Baguio final stage, a wide open race looms for the top P1 million prize.

“These four stages are the most difficult of all the legs and it’s safe to say that this year’s edition is the toughest among the LBC Ronda Pilipinas we’ve done,” said LBC Ronda Pilipinas 2013 race director Ric Rodriguez.

LBC Express president Fernando Araneta also announced the Ronda Pilipinas will now be held every January starting this year.

“We are starting the year 2013 and the succeeding years from hereon with a loud bang that can be heard all the way from Aparri to Jolo,” said Araneta. “The Ronda Pilipinas season will now be at the start of the year beginning 2013.”

Interestingly, the LBC Ronda Pilipinas 2013, a 16-leg, 21-day, 2,200-kilometer tour considered the longest cycling race and the richest with a total purse of P7.5 million, will coincide with three major festivals – the Sinulog Festival in Cebu, the Panagbenga Festival in Baguio and Longanisa Festival in Vigan, Ilocos Sur.

“This is a perfect time for a cycling race that promotes local sports tourism as Ronda Pilipinas will now be part of major local fiestas in the country including Sinulog in Cebu and Panagbenga in Baguio,” said Araneta.

The first batch of the Ronda delegation composed of technical officials, security, vehicle drivers and team staff and mechanics is due to arrive today in Zamboanga City.

Two more batches, mostly comprising of hundreds of riders of all 12 participating teams, are scheduled to fly in today and tomorrow in time for Saturday’s flag off.

The first three stages will be a tour of Mindanao, with stage 1 from Zamboanga City to Ipil (132.5km), the second stage from Ipil to Pagadian (139.5 km) and the third from Pagadian to Iligan (137.8).

The individual champion will bankroll P1 million with the second and third placers receiving P500,000 and P250,000, respectively.