The additional incentives dangled by the organizing Dynamic Solutions Inc (DOS-I) and event presentor Tanduay Rhum in cooperation with Wow Magic Sing, are part of their commitment to make the annual bikathon, which has been moved to May 11-21, more exciting and interesting.
"Fans have been waiting for Padyak Pinoy. And we‚re promising a bigger, better and more exciting race this time," said DOS-I president Gary Cayton during the formal launching of the Padyak Pinoy in yesterday’s PSA Forum at the main function room of the Pantalan Restaurant in Manila.
Cayton was joined in the public sports program by Philippine National Cycling Association (PNCA) president Paquito Rivas, Tanduay advertising manager Larry Li, Magic Sing’s Rey Lapis and the coaches and captains of the 10 competing teams.
Defending champion Warren Davadilla readily expressed his bid to win a third Tour title and a chance to win the top individual prize of P150,000 in this year‚s edition also backed by Cossack Vodka, Air21 and Red Bull.
"We really worked hard for this and we get the chance to win we’ll go for it," said Davadilla in Filipino. He edged out Frederick Feliciano and Rhyan Tanguilig to bag his second Tour title last year following his 1998 triumph.
Davadilla won P100,000 for the feat while his squad, Colt 45, also emerged champion in the team races to bring home the P700,000 prize money.
To up the ante, members of the winning team this time will be automatically seeded in the 2007 edition of the Tour.
"Members of the winning team will be automatically seeded for next year’s tour," said Rivas, adding that the top three individual finishers along with the Rookie of the Year will no longer go through next year’s qualifying races.
As per request by Rivas, the 1979 Tour champion and Eagle of the Mountain, the Tour was moved from its original date of April 20 to April 30 to give local government units the time to repair major roads where the 80 cyclists will pass through during the duration of the 11-day, 10-stage bikathon that covers a total of 1,666 kms.
Rivas again considers the Vigan to Baguio (fifth stage) and Baguio to Baguio (sixth stage) stages as the toughest, while the longest one is the Olongapo to Dagupan stage which covers 249.4 kms.
The opening stage will be from the Quezon City circle to Cabanatuan City (119.70 kms) while the regular criterium race around the city of Manila will again cap the Padyak Pinoy.