4th Le Tour race slated April 13-16

MANILA, Philippines - The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) has calendared the fourth edition of the Le Tour de Filipinas April 13-16 next year, according to race organizer Gary Cayton of the Dynamic Outsource Solutions, Inc.

The Le Tour de Filipinas is the only UCI-sanctioned race in the country.

Last year, Filipino Baler Ravina emerged champion after the four-stage race that saw 10 foreign and five local teams of five cyclists vie for top honors on a route from Sta. Ana, Cagayan, to Baguio City via the treacherous backdoor route atop the Cordilleras.

Philcycling chairman Bert Lina and president Bambol Tolentino expressed their full support for the 2013 race.

“This is a reaffirmation by the UCI of our competence and capabilities in organizing, managing and hosting an event that enjoys international status equal to similar events held in Malaysia, Indonesia, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Australia and others,” Lina said.

“It is time our professional cyclists gear up for this event as Filipino riders will once again be competing with continental teams from all over Asia and probably from other European and American countries. I hope the Philippines proves its prowess in this field and is able to defend and retain the championship it won in April this year,” Tolentino said.

Already, teams from the Czech Republic have expressed interest in joining the event together with squads from Singapore, Japan, China and Indonesia.

Cayton expressed hope that more teams join the tour next year and provide the entertainment that this annual summer spectacle promises to give.

The 2013 race will kick off in Clark (Pampanga) and will pass through Tarlac before reaching what is now known as the “Northern Alps” that starts from Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya to Baguio City.