Bigger, better Terry Larrazabal bikefest on today

MANILA, Philippines - The eighth edition of the highly-anticipated Terry Larrazabal Bike Festival unfolds today at its birth place - Ormoc City.

Conceived in 2002 in honor of the late OIC mayor of Ormoc after the EDSA Revolution, Emeterio “Terry” Larrazabal, the annual bikefest grew out to be a one-of-a-kind sporting extravaganza in Asia.

In each staging, the organizers led by COMELEC Commissioner Atty. Gregorio “Goyo” Larrazabal insert up new features to make the event more exciting and meaningful.

For this year, the cyclo-cross will be introduced for the first time. This is going to be the first known cyclo-cross competition in the country, a race which is much like a cross-country but the requires competitors to carry their bikes on obstacles.

The rest of the events include something for the road racers, mountainbikers and bmx riders.

The racer is the Tour de Larrazabal that includes a time trial, road race and criterium.

Mountainbikers, on the other hand, will take on the cross-country, single-speed, 29er, downhill and a beer run wherein riders will have to drink five bottles of beer after dealing a pre-determined cross-country course.

BMX enthusiasts, for their part, will showcase their wares in a flatland competition.

There will also be some non-cycling spectacles such as a football invitational that will be graced by no less than the celebrated Philippine Azkals plus the ultimate frisbee, pineapple trail run, boxing and shooting.

For today, there will be no contest yet as it will be devoted to bike riding and maintenance clinic, registration, demo day and team managers’ meeting.

The kick off of the TdL wil be on April 1 with the time trial and road race, night rider and the seeding run for the downhill competition. The following day will be the pineapple trail run, mountain stage of the TdL, downhill finals, bmx qualifying round and the start of ultimate frisbee, shooting and football.

The final day involves the cross-cuntry, TdL's criterium, and the continuation of the non-cycling tilts.

More than the fun and excitement though, the Emeterio Larrazabal Foundation, Inc. continues on its mission to finance projects that will help and touch the lives of those who need assistance around Ormoc and Leyte province.