MANILA, Philippines - The Dutch Global team flew in yesterday morning from The Netherlands to become the early bird among 11 foreign teams seeing action in the 2012 Le Tour de Filipinas that starts this Saturday.
According to Gary Cayton, president of the organizing Dynamic Outsource Solutions, Inc. (Dos-1), the Dutch club team was also among the first foreign squads to indicate its intention to join the four-stage race presented by Air21 and held in partnership with Smart and supported by Foton and Jinbei.
“The Dutch team wanted to sort of acclimatize early that’s why they booked an early flight,” said Cayton. “We are all aware how hot it is up north that’s why the foreigners would want to adopt to the weather.”
Yesterday’s temperature in Cagayan was pegged at 33 degrees Celsius and is expected to remain in that vicinity on race days.
The other foreign squads will be flying in today and tomorrow. They are continental teams CCN also from The Netherlands, Aisan Racing Team from Japan, OCBC from Singapore, Uzbekistan Suren from Uzbekistan, Action from Chinese Taipei and the vaunted TPT or Tabriz Petrochemical from Iran.
The club teams are Plan B (Australia), Pure Black (New Zealand) and Colossi Miche (Indonesia).
Giant Kenda RTS, a continental team based in Chinese Taipei, begged off on the last minute.
The foreign squads will be pitted against local teams Go21, Mail and More, Smart-PhilCycling National Team, American Vinly/LPGMA and Kia.
Saturday’s Stage One of the Le Tour also supported by official wear WetShop, Maynilad, Nague Malic Magnawa & Associates Customs Brokers, Wow Videoke, UBEMedia, IWMI, Airphil Express and dzRH is a 155-km ride from Sta. Ana, Cagayan, to Tuguegarao City.
Stage Two on Sunday will be 110 kms from Tuguegarao to Cauayan City, Stage Three will be 102 kms from Cauayan City to Bayombong City and Stage Four will be the 153-km climb on the so-called “Northern Alps” in the Cordilleras from Bayombong to Burnham Park in Baguio City.