BAGUIO, Philippines – After three weeks on the road, new millionaire cycling champion Irish Valenzuela will be back on the road soon, in less familiar territory abroad, to train for a more formidable opposition – the international field – which will challenge him and Filipino riders for top honors in the international edition of Ronda Pilipinas next year.
The newly crowned Ronda Pilipinas champion from Tabaco, Albay was awarded the training program by LPGMA boss Arnel Ty the day after crowning himself the third millionaire champion of the annual event bankrolled by LBC Express, Inc., the country’s leading courier firm.
The scholarship is apart from the P1 million purse and the handsome championship trophy he won for topping the third Ronda Pilipinas.
“I’m ready and I think everybody else is,†said Valenzuela of next year’s Ronda Pilipinas.
With the participation of foreign teams, Ronda organizers will do away with the drafting, allowing local teams to directly recruit riders.
“We will start our training as soon as possible as we’re now in the process of getting new team members, a practice that is now allowed,†said LPGMA-American Vinyl coach Renato Dolosa, a former two-time winner in the fabled Marlboro Tour.
“I’d like to keep the team intact because we feel we can compete against the best of them, whether local or foreign teams,†said Bong Sual, manager of third Ronda team champion Roadbike Phl.
Roadbike Phl features Ronald Gorantes, 2012 Ronda titlist Mark Galedo, climbing specialist Baler Ravina, newly crowned Sprint King Ronnel Hualda, Ericson Obosa, Jimmy Aquino Jr. and Alfie Catalan.
The plan of going international was hatched by LBC Express, Inc. president Fernando “Dino†Araneta.
“That’s the plan, to go international after three editions,†said Araneta, founder of Ronda Pilipinas which is now considered the biggest, most exciting cycling race in the country.
“For sure, we will do that next year because we will be given a full year to prepare everything and make it the best ever Ronda edition,†he added.
Originally, Araneta and LBC intended to provide local riders tough competition with a whopping P7.5 million purse per edition with P1 million each going to the individual and team champion.
Now it’s time for the local riders to compete against the best of the best in the world.
“Every year, Ronda as well as our riders are improving and I think after three editions, our local boys are now ready to challenge the foreign participants that we hope to attract next year,†said Araneta.
Araneta is also funding an under-23 team that he hopes will win medals for the country in international events in the near future. American coach Chris Allison handles the team.
“That’s my vision, to send a rider and perhaps a team to the Tour de France. But first, let’s try to win medals in our region,†said Araneta. “And as you can see, we have young, talented riders in our fold like Carino and Oranza.â€