PAGUDPUD, ILOCOS NORTE , Philippines – The arrival of highly touted Tabriz Petrochemical Team of Iran has brought a sense of both fear and challenge to the local bets vying for honors in the fourth Le Tour de Filipinas that blasts off today in nearby Bangui town.
Tabriz, the consensus No. 1 continental team in Asia, is making a return to the International Cycling Union-sanctioned tourney after skipping last year’s edition. And everyone remembers how the Iranians swept the individual and team diadems the last time they raced in 2011.
“Bago kami umalis papunta rito, sabi ko 1-2-3 ang labanan dito pero nung nakita kong dumating ang Iran, battle for second na lang ito. Kaya nilang manalo kahit nakapikit (Before we left Manila, I saw it as an open race but when Iran arrived, it’s going be down to a battle for second. They are just too strong),†said American Vinyl coach Renato Dolosa.
Holder Baler Ravina of Philippine Continental team 7-Eleven presented by Roadbike, who pounced on the absence of the Iranians to rule the four-stage tourney last year, admitted it will be a tall order but stressed it’s not entirely “Mission Impossible.â€
“Paglalaban natin ito. Hindi porke nananalo sila sa malalaking laro, hindi na natin kaya. Lalo pa’t dito sa atin ang karera at pare-pareho lang naman kaming nag-handa (We’ll give them a fight. They may win the big races but that doesn’t necessarily mean they are unbeatable, especially on our home soil. And we just prepared for this event as well),†said Ravina.
Stage One of the Le Tour 2013 presented by Air21 in partnership with San Miguel Corp. and Smart gets going today in Bangui town, home of the famous windmills, in a 183-km ride to Aparri, Cagayan traversing the coastlines of the Northern Luzon.
The opener features relatively flat route, a sprinter’s paradise, if you may, with the riders expected to push hard to gain precious clockings.
“Ratratan talaga yan para kumuha ng pondo (Everyone will definitely go all out to get the early upperhand),†said Joel Calderon of Philippine Navy Standard Insurance, who was third overall in 2012, capping that effort with a lap win in the treacherous fourth stage from Bayombong, Nueva Ecija to Baguio City.
“Sasabay kami sa kanila sa una pa lang, mahirap matambakan agad lalo na pagdating sa ahon dahil malakas ang Tabriz dun (We’ll keep in step with them from the get-go. We don’t want to be left behind in the clocking going to the ascent, knowing Tabriz is strong in climbs),†said Ravina.
Sunday’s Stage Two – a 196-km pedal from Aparri to Cauayan City, Isabela – will be another cruise on flat lands as does Monday’s Stage Three (104 kms) from Cauayan to Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya.
Tuesday’s Stage Four from Bayombong to Baguio – a 132.7-km roller-coaster ride through the Cordilleras – is tipped to be the killer lap and likely decider of the event 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.