Ronda Pilipinas rolls off

MANILA, Philippines - Filipino riders headed by former champions Irish Valenzuela of Army, Mark Galedo of 7Eleven and Santy Barnachea of Navy-Standard Insurance will carry the fight for the host country when the Ronda Pilipinas International 2014 unfurls today with a 66-km Stage One at the Quezon City Circle.

Valenzuela, Galedo and Barnachea, who reigned supreme in the first three stagings before Ronda went international for the first time this year, are all expected to race with pride as they battle not just against themselves but also against some of the best of Asia and the world.

The 28-year-old Galedo, the second edition winner and reigning Southeast Asian Games gold medalist in Myanmar last December said he’s in the best shape.

“This is probably the best shape I’ve been into the whole year and I hope to do good in this race,” said Galedo in Filipino.

Same with Valenzuela, who has moved to Army after his LPGMA-American Vinyl team disbanded.

“I’m in good shape and I will try my best to make my countrymen and the country proud,” said a trimmed Valenzuela.

A whopping cash pot amounting to P7.3 million will be staked with the individual and team overall champion receiving P600,000 apiece.

To ensure that Filipinos get a fair share of the total pot, organizers have also alloted P400,000 to the top Filipino rider and the same amount to the best Filipino team of this race that drew participation from seven international squads including one from The Netherlands and seven local teams.

“We made it a point that only a maximum of 60 percent of the prizes will be won by foreign riders or teams to give our local riders extra incentive and motivation to strive harder,” said Ronda sports director Moe Chulani.

Valenzuela will captain an Army team composed of former Tour king Alfie Catalan, Alvin Benosa, Reynaldo Navarro, Marvin Tapic and Daniel Asto, while Galedo will skipper a squad that includes Baler Ravina, Cris Joven, Edmundo Nicolas Jr., Ryan Boots Cayubit and Mark Julius Bordeos.

Barnachea, one of the most seasoned riders in the 84-man, 14-team field more than half of which are foreigners, rides with a team packed with a combination of seasoned and youthful crew in Lloyd Lucien Reynante, Joel Calderon, Jan Paul Morales, Rudy Roque and George Oconer.

Roadbike Philippines, half of the Bong Sual-managed side that won the team crown last year, tabbed two foreign riders in Spaniard Edgar Nieto and Brit Daniel Patten to reinforce local riders Ronnel Hualda, Nelson Martin, Carlos Gasmen and Dominic Perez. PLDT-Maynilad is coached by American Chris Allison and composed of under-23 riders Ronald Oranza, Joshua Carino, Rustom Lim, Junrey Navarra, Ronald Lomotos and captain Mark Bonzo.

The regions down South will also be represented this year by Team Cycleline Butuan Mindanao of March McQuinn Aleonar, Niño Surban, Riemon Lapaza, Tots Oledan, Vicmar Vicente and Jemico Brioso and Team Cebu-Kalit Phl Air Force of ageless warrior Warren Davadilla, Tomas Martinez Jr., Oscar Rindole, Joseph Milanes, Lito Atilano and Elmer Navarro.

It will not be an easy ride though.

Race organizers have invited seven international teams – Netherland’s Dutch Global Cycling Team, Japan’s Matrix Powertag Continental Team, Taiwan’s Gusto Continental Team, the Malaysian national team, Thailand-based CCN Continental Cycling Team, South Korea’s Uijeongby City Cycling Team and Infinite-Singha Cycling Team.

The Malaysians pocketed a silver and a bronze medal in the 2013 Southeast Asian Games while reigning SEAG gold medalist Ariya Phounsavath of Laos will spearhead Infinite-Singha in a re-match with Galedo, Oranza and Lim, who combined to rake in a gold and two bronzes in the biennial meet.

Interestingly, the Dutch cyclists – Wim Botman, Jeoren Breewel, Harm Van den Sanden, Riys Pieters and Mike Terpstra – are all expected to pack power and strength as they all stand at least six feet tall.