Ironman detours to the north

CEBU, Philippines — Organizer of this year’s Ironman has decided to take to northern Cebu the biking course following Cebu City's refusal to co-host the international triathlon competition.

Sunrise Events General Manager Princess Galura said Carmen town will be the turn-around point for the 90-kilometer bike route on August 5.

This development came following yesterday’s meeting attended by Galura, Provincial Administrator Mark Tolentino, Capitol’s focal person on traffic management Jonathan Tumulak, and officials from the municipalities of Carmen and Compostela.

Galura said they will be meeting today other local government units covered in the race’s bike route.

Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza said the new route for the bike leg is a welcome development.

“This is a new endeavor for the triathletes,” the mayor said.

Triathletes from 51 countries are expected to join this year’s event.

Ironman, one of the world’s toughest triathlons, is a 70.3-mile (113-kilometer) race in which participants swim for a distance of 1.9 kilometers, bike for 90 kilometers, and run for a total of 21.1 kilometers.

The swim course at the Mactan Channel in Lapu-Lapu City is a 1.9 kilometer loop followed by a 90 kilometer bicycle course which covers the northern areas. This will be followed by a 21 kilometer run within Lapu-Lapu City.

This will be the seventh year Cebu would witness Ironman 70.3 action and the second time to witness the Asia-Pacific championships.

For the last six years, Cebu South Coastal Road (CSCR) in the cities of Cebu and Talisay has played host to the biking course of international triathlon Ironman 70.3.

But it won’t be the case this year.

This after Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña declined the request of Sunrise Events to use the CSCR for the 2018 edition of the action-packed triathlon event, invoking public convenience.

CSCR serves as an important passage linking the north and south of Cebu.

Bus trips to and from southern Cebu have been diverted to CSCR because part of N. Bacalso Avenue was closed to make way for the ongoing construction of a P638-million underpass. — KBQ (FREEMAN)