Le Tour de Filipinas hits road May 20

MANILA, Philippines — The Le Tour de Filipinas returns to the so-called “Cradle of Philippine Cycling” for its ninth edition on May 20-23, pedaling from Quezon City to Baguio passing through the sport’s hotbeds Nueva Ecija and Pangasinan.

The Union Cycliste Internationale-sanctioned race starts with the 151.32 K Stage 1 from the Quezon City Hall to Palayan City, Nueva Ecija, followed by the 157.90K Cabanatuan to Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya Stage Two, then the 174.50K Stage Three from Bambang, Nueva Vizcaya to Dagupan City before culminating in the 154.65K race from Lingayen up to the City of Pines. 

According to Le Tour de Filipinas chair Donna May Lina, 16 teams and 80 riders will answer the starting gun for the event, all determined to earn UCI points as they chase spots in the 2020 Olympics.

7-Eleven Roadbike Philippines, fresh from its third-place finish in the Team Asian Classification of the high-level Le Tour de Langkawi, banners the Phl teams out to defend local pride against foreign rivals like Pishgaman from Iran, Brisbane  Continental Cycling Team and Oliver’s Real Food Racing from Australia, Nice Devo from Mongolia, Interpro Cycling Academy from Thailand, Korail Cycling from Korea, Team Sapura Cycling and Terengganu Cycling from Malaysia, Ningxia Sports Lottery Livall from China and KFC Cycling from Indonesia.

Equally motivated to carry the Phl fight are the Phl National team-Bike Xtreme Ph, Go for Gold, Standard Insurance Navy Team and  CCN Super Team.

“We’re having more Philippine teams in this edition than the previous ones so it’s really a great opportunity for our riders (to win the crown),” said Lina during yesterday’s press launch at Palacio de Manila.