Ronda qualifier unwraps in Dumaguete

DUMAGUETE, Philippines – Veteran campaigners brace for a showdown with a slew of rising stars as the chase for berths in this year’s Ronda Pilipinas 2015 presented by LBC begins today with the Visayas qualifiers here.

Former Ronda champion Irish Valenzuela heads the cast that includes Army teammates Cris Joven, Alvin Benosa and Alfie Catalan, the 7-Eleven squad of Bong Sual led by noted mountain climber Baler Ravina and sprint specialist Ronnel Hualda in what promises to be a fiercely fought battle for the top 54 slots staked in the three-day elims.

But the bumper crop of young riders, headed by the Pagnanawon brothers Jaybop, Junvie and Jetley, sons of 1986 Marlboro Tour champ Rolando, are raring to show their stuff against the big guns and nail berths in the championship round set Feb. 22-27 from Paseo Greenfield City in Sta. Rosa, Laguna to Baguio.

For the first time in five years, Ronda has instituted a new format wherein all except for last year’s winner Reimon Lapaza, national team members Mark Galedo, Ronald Oranza, Rustom Lim and George Oconer Jr., and a composite European team composed mostly of Danish riders, must join the qualifiers for a crack at the P1 million top purse.

“This little twist is aimed at giving the newcomers, especially the younger ones, a chance to show if they could compete with the best or not,” said Ronda executive director Moe Chulani. “Those who has the potential to make it big someday will be selected to the national team.”

Organizers are also expecting for some Mindanao riders to emerge like Lapaza, who humbled Galedo last year in one of the most dramatic finishes of the annual race.

The 172.7-kilometer Stage One is a relatively flat one from the Negros Oriental Provincial Capitol where Gov. Roel Degamo is expected to be in attendance. It will end in Sipalay, one of the few cities entering Negros Occidental.

Only a pair of short, Category 4 ascents poses as a serious challenge but the rest will be all be flat, paved roads.

After Stage One, Ronda goes to Bacolod for a 157.8-km race that will pass through the dreaded mountains of Don Salvador Benedicto tomorrow and the 120-km Stage Three opening at the Negros Occidental Provincial Capitol and ending in Cadiz.

A total of 54 slots are up for grabs 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 Ronda administration director Jack Yabut.

From Visayas, Ronda will go up North for the Luzon qualifier opening in Tarlac City on Feb. 16 and culminating in Antipolo on Feb. 17 where 34 slots (30 elite and four juniors) will be up for grabs.

All 88 qualifiers will race in the championship round set Feb 22-27 from Paseo Greenfield City in Sta. Rosa, Laguna to mountaintop Baguio City.

Meanwhile, Ronda will have a 10-20 Tracker sit for selected riders and can be viewed at www.10-20tracker.com/ronda, which will show a countdown clock before each race and during the race proper will show the locations of the lead pack, end pack and the LBC red jersey wearer.

The race is 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.