Galedo eyes Ronda grand comeback

MANILA, Philippines — Mark Galedo and 7Eleven Cliqq-Air21 by Roadbike Philippines will make a much-awaited return as they seek to reclaim their dominance in the LBC Ronda Pilipinas 10th anniversary race unfolding Sunday in Sorsogon and concluding on March 4 in Vigan, Ilocos Sur.

Galedo, 34, vows to go all out to reclaim the title he last won in 2012 as he will spearhead a team that includes equally strong Marcelo Felipe and Rustom Lim in this 10-stage race staking P1 million to the overall individual champion.

“We will do our best to try to win it,” said Galedo.

Galedo once lorded it over Philippines cycling as he followed up his 2012 Ronda conquest by copping the Southeast Asian Games gold the next year then reigning supreme in the 2014 Le Tour de Filipinas.

Galedo is actually on a comeback trail after battling various injuries the past few years. He is  looking for a strong showing in this race presented by LBC and sponsored by the Manny V. Pangilinan Sports Foundation.

“I’m feeling good and confident now especially with the team that I have,” said Galedo, whose other teammates are Mervic Corpuz, Aidan James Mendoza, Nichol Pareja, Jhonrey Buccat and Tomas Mojares.

Galedo has a score to settle with former tormentor Reimon Lapaza, who came out of nowhere to snatch the 2013 title.

Lapaza, like Galedo, is making a grand comeback as he will race for Celeste Cycles PH-Devel Project Pro Team, trying to relive the glory of 2013 when he stole the crown in the last two stages of the third edition of Ronda.

Galedo, however, maintains it was all in the past.

“It’s part of the race. We’ll just try to focus on the present,” said Galedo.

Other teams seeing action are powerhouse Standard Insurance (Navy), Go for Gold, Scratch It, Bicycology (Army), Bike Xtreme, Tarlac/Central Luzon, Ilocos Sur, South Luzon/Batangas and Nueva Ecija.

Versa, 8A Performance, Print2Go, Petron, Green Planet, Bike Xtreme, Standard Insurance, Spyder, CCN, Lightwater, Prolite, Guerciotti, Black Mamba, Boy Kanin, Vitamin Boost, NLEX/SCTEX, Maynilad, 3Q Sports Event Management Inc., LBC Foundation and PhilCycling are backing the race.