Foreign riders brace for gruelling Le Tour

MANILA, Philippines - Foreign riders from Hong Kong, Malaysia, Korea and Australia hit town days before the Le Tour de Filipinas, all geared up for what could be the most grueling, punishing battle for cycling honors in years.

Race manager Paquito Rivas, a former Tour champion and Eagle of the Mountain, said the heat – temperature readings in Northern Luzon were recorded at an extreme 39 degrees Centigrade the past few days – would definitely burden the foreigners.

“It’s not getting any cooler. That is why not only the strong sprinters and climbers will be having an advantage, but also the riders who are used to these high temperature,” said Rivas, currently a director of the PhilCycling.

Riders from Hong Kong-based Team Direct Asia planed in Monday while their rivals from three other foreign squads also arrived Wednesday for the fourth edition of the event presented by Air21 in partnership with San Miguel Corp. and Smart.

In town and already settled in Pagudpod in Ilocos Norte are members of continental team Polygon Sweet Nice (Malaysia) and club teams Perth Cycling (Australia) and Korail Cycling Team (Korea).

The Le Tour starts with the 175.5-km Stage One from Bangui to Aparri, Cagayan, tomorrow, followed by Stage Two which will be 196 kms long to Cauayan, Isabela, then Stage Three, an easy 104-km cruise to Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya and finally Stage Four – 133.5 kms from Bayombong to Baguio City.

Continental teams OSBC Singapore (Singapore), Terrenganu Cycling (Malaysia), CCN Cycling Team (Taiwan) and Tabriz Petrochemical (Iran) arrived yesterday, along with Atilla Cycling Club (Mongolia), just two days before the four-stage Le Tour kicks off tomorrow in Bangui, home of the now famous windmills.

Meanwhile, several key riders of Ayandeh Continental are nursing injuries, forcing the continental team based in Uzbekistan to withdraw on the last minute from the International Cycling Union (UCI) Asia Tour race sponsored by Standard Insurance, Jinbei, Victory Liner, San Mig Coffee, Magnolia Purewater, Red Media, Foton, Maynilad, Kia, Sign Media, Integrated Waste Management Inc., Eurotel, American Vinyl, LBC and 7-Eleven.