Ronda shelves Mindanao qualifiers

MANILA, Philippines - Due to security concerns, the Ronda Pilipinas 2015 presented by LBC yesterday announced it will forego its two-leg Mindanao qualifying leg but will augment it with additional stages in the Visayas.

“We’re sorry to announce that we’re foregoing the Mindanao qualifiers for fear of the safety of the whole Ronda delegation including our cyclists,” said Ronda Pilipinas executive project director Moe Chulani, who also said Ronda symphatizes with the family of the victims, yesterday.

Ronda is originally scheduled to hold a qualifying leg in Mindanao, the first on Feb. 8 from Butuan City to Cagayan de Oro and the other the next day from Tubod, Lanao del Norte to Dipolog.

Instead, Ronda will replace it with additional stages in Visayas, possibly Negros Oriental and Negros Occidental.

“But we remain firm with our goal of finding talents in the provinces so we will bring the Mindanao riders to the Visayas where we will add a qualifying leg that will replace the Mindanao stages,” said Chulani.