Iran team to watch in Le Tour

STA. ANA, CAGAYAN, Philippines  – Their reputation precedes them and no doubt, riders from highly touted Tabriz Petrochemical Team (TPT) from Iran will carry giant bull’s eyes on their backs when the 2012 Le Tour de Filipinas presented by Air21 hits the road tomorrow.

TPT is a four-time UCI Asia Tour team champions and one of their bets, Rahim Emami romped off with the overall individual crown in the previous Le Tour. Although Emami will not be around, his absence do not necessarily diminish the TPT delegation’s trademark strong climbing ability and stability even under extreme weather one bit.

“Binabantayan talaga namin ang Iranians dahil malakas sila maski mainit na panahon o malamig (The Iranians are marked men considering their strength do not falter under hot or cold conditions),” said LPGMA-American Vinyl head coach Renato Dolosa.

“Pero hindi basta-basta magpapabaya ang mga Pinoy (But Pinoy riders will not back down),” he added.

Go21’s assistant team captain Arnel Quirimit concurred.

“Malakas talaga ang foreign teams, lalo na ang Iranians, pero laban kami (We’re facing strong foreign competition but we’re not giving up an inch),” said the veteran rider.

Five local teams – LPGMA-American Vinyl, Go21, Mail & More, Smart-PhilCycling National Team, and Kia – will carry the country’s colors against the foreign charge in the four-stage race held in partnership with Smart Communications and supported by Foton and Jinbei.

Vaunted TPT is not the sole source of major concern for the Pinoy cyclists but also a crop of talented and experienced rivals from five other continental teams CCN from The Netherlands, Aisan Racing Team  from Japan, OCBC from Singapore, Uzbekistan Suren from Uzbekistan, and Action from Chinese Taipei. 

Also answering the starting gun are international clubs Plan B (Australia), PureBlack Racing (New Zealand), Dutch Global team (The Netherlands) and Colossi Miche (Indonesia), which tabbed a Filipino as its fifth rider, Merculio Ramos, as well as the Indonesian national squad.

Dutch Global was the early bird in this picturesque municipality known as the “Paradise of the Northeast, arriving last Tuesday to test part of the route for stage one – a  155-km ride from Sta. Ana to Tuguegarao City  under punishing 35 degrees Celsius weather.

Some of the Filipino road cyclists warmed up for the Tour by riding their bikes from Nueva Viscaya to the billeting area.

Not even the “North Korean rocket scare” could dampen the spirits of the participants in the 2012 Le Tour, which kicks off for the first time near the northern tip of Luzon. 

“Everything’s a go and we are all ready to get this race on the road,” said Gary Cayton, president of race organizer Dynamic Outsource Solutions, Inc.

Bert Lina, godfather of Philippine cycling and chairman of Air21 will arrive today to grace the opening ceremonies and welcome dinner presented by Cagayan Rep. Jackie Enrile, who counts cycling as one of his favorite sports.

Smart, meanwhile, renewed its support behind the Le Tour, which after the Sta. Ana to Tuguegarao opener will hold a 110-km ride from Tuguegarao to Cauayan City for Stage Two, a 102-km ride from Cauayan City to Bayombong City for Stage Three and finally a 153-km climb on the so-called “Northern Alps” in the Cordilleras from Bayombong to Burnham Park in Baguio City for Stage Four.

“Unknown to many, cycling is the world’s No. 2 sport next to football in terms of viewership. Part of Smart’s commitment to sports is to support the Philippine cycling team with the hope that we become a world class cycling country,” said Noel Lorenzana, Smart Division Head for Wireless Consumer.

The Le Tour is also supported by official wear WetShop, Maynilad, Nague Malic Magnawa & Associates Customs Brokers, Wow Videoke, UBEMedia, IWMI, Airphil Express and dzRH.