Tagaytay-Marikina race kicks off summer cycling classic

MANILA, Philippines - Two-time Tour champions Victor Espiritu and Warren Davadilla, and the country’s other seasoned riders start today their battle in the two-day Koten-Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) Summer Cycling Classic, which kicks off with the 161km first stage from Tagaytay City to Marikina.

Arnel Quirimit, Santy Barnachea, Joel Calderon and John Mark Guevarra are also in the field slugging it out in the event supported by the Philippine Sports Commission, the Triathlon Association of the Philippines, Powerade, Viva Mineral Water, 7-11 Road Bike Philippines, Franzia Wine, Grace of Shekinah School-Bulacan, Batang Tagaytay, Reli Tours and Travel, Nueva Ecija Vice Gov. Edward Joson and the City of Tagaytay.

The first stage will have the riders traversing Tagaytay City, Sungay, Talisay (Batangas), Alaminos (Laguna), San Pablo, then left to Calauan, Victoria, Pagsanjan, Lumban, Sinoloan, Fami (Rizal), Mabitac, Tanay, Teresa, Antipolo, and all the way to Marikina.

The second stage is a 151km grind from Marikina to Cabanatuan City, passing Quezon City, Caloocan, San Jose del Monte, Norzagaray, Angat, Pulilan, Baliwag, San Rafael, San Ildefonso, San Miguel, Gapan (Nueva Ecija) and Santa Rosa.

“This is a great opportunity for us to gauge our readiness for the next tour, the Islas Filipinas. It will be an international event, with tough competition from foreign riders. We have to be in tiptop shape,” said Espiritu, the 1996 and 2007 Tour champion.

Lloyd Lucien Reynante, Sherwin Carrera, Merculio Ramos, Bernard Luzon and perennial Eagle of the Mountain Baler Ravina are the other riders likely to figure prominently in the event with a total cash pot of P250,000.

The event marks the first time Koten, Taiwan’s electrical products and circuit breakers leader, and the PCSO team up in sponsoring a major cycling event. Coca-Cola, a pioneer sponsor of major local cycling events, is expected to support bigger races later in the year.

The Koten-PCSO Summer Cycling Classic is the first point-to-point multi-stage event this year to be sanctioned by the PhilCyling under Tagaytay City Mayor Bambol Tolentino, who will also organize the Tour de Isla Filipinas International Cyclingfest next month.

PCSO general manager Rosario Uriarte promised to shoulder the registration fee of all participating riders.

“We want to change the sports system in our country. We know for a fact that a lot of our cyclists come from poor families, who can’t afford to shoulder the expenses in joining these kinds of events. That’s why we came up with this idea,” declared Uriarte.