Devos, Torres lead chase for Tri 113 plums

MANILA, Philippines - Belgian pro triathlete Anthony Devos and former national triathlon champion Monica Torres loom as the bets to beat in the inaugurals of the Ilocos Heritage Tri 113 which fires off Dec. 1 in Ilocos Sur.

Devos, 22, toting a personal best of four hours, 19 minutes posted in this year’s Ironman 70.3 Philippines, heads the chase for the top prize of P50,000 in the 1.9-km, 90-km bike and 21.1-km competition starting at Santiago Cove in Santiago and ending at Heritage Village in Vigan City.

But while Devos, who planed in over the weekend, is expected to draw fierce challenge from a talent-laden field, Torres, five-time (2009-2013) local Ironman 70.3 undisputed queen, is a cinch to rule the distaff side of the lung-busting race that passes through Candon City and Ilocos Sur’s six coastal towns.

Tri 113 has the equivalent distance of Ironman 70.3, the former expressed in metric and the latter in miles.

“We are going beyond sports and sports tourism, hence, we want the Ilocos Heritage Tri 113 to leave a legacy of greater significance,” said Rep. Eric Singson, also the man at the helm of the event.

 He added that all the collected entry fees from the biggest triathlon north of Subic Bay will be donated to the “Yolanda” survivors.

Joining Singson as sponsors of the event, a highlight of the Feria de Candon, an annual tourism festivities hosted by Candon and the 22 towns of southern Ilocos Sur – are Ilocos Sur Gov. Ryan Singson, city governments of Vigan and Candon, Pepsi-Cola, Save More SM Market, Extreme Magic Sing, Santiago Cove and Resort and Spa, Vigan Plaza Hotel and Candon Hotel.

Former top duathlete August Benedicto, 29, is one of those tipped to crowd Devos for the crown. He will be coming into the Tri 113 with a runner-up finish in the Tri United 4 last week.

Other contenders are former national triathlon titleholder Fil-Am Arland Macasieb and Laguna-based expat Mathieu O’Halloran.

 Devos finished seven spots clear of Benedicto in the overall ranking of the 2013 Ironman 70.3 Philippines. Macasieb, the 2011 Ironman 70.3 Philippines and 2012 Bohol Timex 226 winner, ended up four rungs behind while O’Halloran, who dominated the standard distance triathlon’s debut in Ilocos Sur, wound up another five places adrift.      

Former national triathlon champion LC Langit, second only to Torres in the Ironman 70.3 Philippines last year, is the only woman capable of shadowing Torres.