Phl riders eye Le Tour repeat

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine contingent to the 2015 Le Tour de Filipinas is eyeing no less than a back-to-back title romp on the year the country’s premier bike race turns 60.

Organizers of the only bikathon meet here that is part of the UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale) Asia Tour calendar are confident the Filipino cyclists, led by defending champion Mark Galedo, are capable of repeating as champions in the sixth edition of the race to be held from Feb. 1-4.

The national squad and the 7-11 team will represent the country in the four-stage event that also features entries from Australia, US, Kazakshtan, Brunei, Indonesia, Uzbekistan, Iran, Malaysia, Japan, and Taiwan.  

“We are banking on our cyclists to go for back-to-back titles (next year),” said Donna Lina-Flavier, president of race organizer Ube Media, in yesterday’s PSA Forum, its last session for the year at Shakey’s Malate.

Race manager Paquito Rivas, who was also present in the public sports program presented by Shakey’s, Accel and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, also believed any of the Filipino riders is good enough to emerge overall winner and clinch the top prize of the P700,000 race.

“Filipino riders will always find a way to win,” said Rivas, the 1978 Tour champion. “The local bets also enjoy some edge given their familiarity with the route and the weather condition.”

In the five years since the Tour adopted its current name, Galedo and Baler Ravina are the two local riders to emerge champion of the competition.

Other winners include inaugural champion David McCann (Ireland), Rahim Emami (Iran), and Ghader Mizbani (Iran).

The first stage of the meet will be from Balanga,Bataan to Balanga (126 kms), followed by Balanga to Iba Zambales (153.75 kms), and then Iba to Lingayen, Pangasinan (149.34 kms), and finally Lingayen to Baguio City (101 kms).