Ronda begins 3-stage qualifier

DUMAGUETE CITY – The road to cycling glory starts Wednesday when Ronda Pilipinas 2015 presented by LBC holds a three-stage qualifier starting with the 172.7-kilometer Stage One at the Negros Oriental Provincial Capitol and ending in Sipalay in Negros Occidental.

Irish Valenzuela, the second 2013 Ronda champion, along with fellow Armymen Cris Joven and Alvin Benosa and Alfie Catalan, Cebu's Pagnanawon siblings Junvie, Jaybop and Jetley Pagnanawon, and 7-Eleven riders headed by Baler Ravina and Ronnel Hualda were some of the big names that registered Tuesday.

More were expected to participate, including a group of riders from Mindanao who were ferried from Dipolog for free by Ronda and LBC, and the Visayas and some junior participants 17 to 18 years old vying for slots in the championship round slated Feb. 22-27 from Sta. Rosa, Laguna to Baguio.

There, they will have a chance to pocket the top purse worth Php1 million and the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be selected into the national team and represent the country to future international races.

"The race is on," said Ronda executive director Moe Chulani during Tuesday’s final briefing for riders and all members of the Ronda caravan at the Bethel Guest House in this Negros Oriental capital.

Apart from two short Category 4 climbs – one in the early part of the race and the other near the end – the opening stage will be a relatively flat one as it will traverse cities and towns in the western part of the province like Zamboanguita, Siaton, Bayawan and then Sipalay.

"There will be two short ascents located near the start and end of the stage but the rest will be generally flat roads," said Ronda race director Ric Rodriguez.

After Stage One, the Visayas leg goes to Bacolod for a 157.8-km that will tackle the dreaded mountains in Don Salvador Benedicto Wednesday and the 120-km Stage Three opening at the Negros Occidental Provincial Capitol and concluding in Cadiz.

A total of 54 slots are being staked in this leg including four juniors but qualifiers must make the qualifying time first.

"If you're in the top 50 but you didn't meet our time requirement, you will not make it to the championship round," said Chulani.

After the Visayas phase, Ronda will proceed to the North for the Luzon qualifier in Tarlac City on Feb. 16 and Antipolo on Feb. 17 where 34 slots (30 elite and four juniors) will be up for grabs.

Then all the 88 qualifiers from the Visayas and Luzon legs will make it to the main event alongside last year’s winner Reimon Lapaza of Butuan, the nine-man national team spearheaded by Mark Galedo and a composite European team composed mainly of Danish riders.

Meanwhile, Dutch Martin Bruin, Ronda's chief president and head commissaire, and five foreign officials have all arrived along with the rest of the 150-man Ronda caravan running the race.

Ronda administration director Jack Yabut said they will have a 10-20 Tracker sit for selected riders and can be viewed at www.10-20tracker.com/ronda.

It will show a countdown clock before each race then show the locations of the lead pack, end pack and the red jersey in every race.

The race is being presented by LBC and supported by major sponsors the Manny V. Pangilinan Sports Foundation, Petron and Mitsubishi and minor sponors Cannondale, Standard Insurance, Tech1 Corp., Maynilad and NLEX and sanctioned by PhilCycling under Cavite Congressman Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino with TV5 and Sports Radio as media partners.

For updates, check Ronda Pilipinas' official Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/RondaPilipinas, and Twitter account, @rondapilipinas.