240 cyclists vie in tour of Subic

MANILA, Philippines - A huge field of 240 cyclists and sports club members from around the nation braces for a full weekend of cycling action and scenic views as the Bike United Tour of Subic fires tomorrow at 7 a.m. at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

Participants will be classified into three categories with category 2 comprising advanced riders who performed well in previous Bike King races. Intermediate participants who have been active during the past 1-2 years fall under category 3 while the novice riders are grouped in category 4. Female riders will have a separate category.

Organized by Bike King, headed by Raul Cuevas, the first day action will have Stage 1, a 20-kilometer individual time trial (ITT), which starts  at 7 a.m., along the Argonaut Highway with turnaround points near the New Container Terminal and near Zambales Highway before concluding at 9 a.m.  At 2 p.m., Stage 2 will fire off  participants of the 60 km road race and will go around farther the Freeport (Zambales Highway and Appari Road included) and finish at 4 p.m.

The final day of the race at 6 a.m. covers the Freeport and portions of Bataan through Morong past the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant.

Gift items and specially designed trophies-medals await the top three winners of each category as well as winners of the individual general classification (stages 1, 2 and 3) for categories 2 and 3 and female and the team general classification category. The awarding ceremony will be held at the Subic Holiday Villas on Sunday, at 11 a.m. 

The event is sponsored by Unilab Active Health, Aboitiz, Subic Holiday Villas, AboitizPower, Orbea, Pocari Sweat, Crystal Clear Purified Water, Shimano, OtterBox, Maxxis Tires and the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority.