‘Race of Nilo Barbalose’ set Dec. 6

CEBU, Philippines – It's all systems go for the 'Race for Nilo Barbalose Cycling Challenge' in Toledo City, the Cebuano cycling legend's hometown, on December 6.

American Keith DeFiebre, an accomplished downhiller now race director in the United States, organized the charity event for the benefit of Barbalose, who is in dire need of financial help after getting into a fatal road accident. Though he is now recovering well, Barbalose is advised not to race again.

Since they first met four years ago, DeFiebre and Barbalose became good friends. In the course of their friendship, DeFiebre got a lot of valuable tips from Barbalose both in mountainbike and road race.

"I have been into an accident myself. I thought what if what happened to Nilo also happened to me? So I thought of something. I asked for donations to help Nilo. He had two major operations and he is not well-off," said DeFiebre in a press conference at Lantaw-SRP yesterday.

Though it is mainly a fund-raiser, DeFiebre would also want to give something back to the local cyclists who had been very nice to him.

 With this, over P140,000 in cash prize has been set aside for the winners, with the emphasis that for the first time in local cycling history, female riders will get "equal share" of the bounty with their male counterparts.

It will be a criterium event for both racer and mountainbike discipline. The categories to be contested are the juniors, golden, men's 19-44, 45-above, women's junior and the men and women's open.

The riders may enter both the mountainbike and road race, but will have to pay an entry fee for each category they are joining in.

Registration fee is pegged at P200 inclusive of a dri-fit shirt for the first 125 registrants.

 All the riders are reminded to wear their helmets as the organizers want to promote safety in cycling at all times.

 DeFiebre also hopes to infuse his learnings in officiating in the US, with the local group handling the technical side of it. (FREEMAN)