Valenzuela out to reclaim crown in Ronda Pilipinas

MANILA, Philippines - Ranged against the cream of the crop and a slew of young aces, former champion Irish Valenzuela believes he still got what it takes to win the Ronda Pilipinas championship.

“I’ve never been inspired and ready since I won the Ronda title a couple of years ago,” said the 26-year-old Valenzuela in Pilipino. “I’m optimistic of my chances and I hope I could translate it to a win.”

Valenzuela primed up for the event under the strict Army training and declared he’s ready to slug it out with the best of the lot when the Championship round of the Ronda Pilipinas 2015 presented by LBC is fired off tomorrow at the Paseo Greenfield City in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

But contending, much more winning it again, needs a lot of hard work, desire and team support with a host of ace riders out to foil his bid, including inaugural winner Santy Barnachea, 2012 titlist Mark Galedo, and defending champion Reimon Lapaza.

The emergence of young talents like Visayas qualifying leg winner Boots Ryan Cayubit of 7-Eleven and Ronald Oranza of Navy-Standard Insurance, who swept the two-leg Luzon elims, makes it doubly hard for Valenzuela to score another win.

“I’m aware it’s going to be tough and I will need all the support I can get from my Army teammates to win again,” said Valenzuela. “But I believe deep in my heart that it can be done.”

Valenzuela’s journey back to cycling glory – along with 100 other riders – starts with the 60km criterium around Paseo Greenfield City in the morning and a 120.5km lap in Calamba, Laguna and ending in Atimonan, Quezon in the afternoon via the “Tatlong Eme.”

The race resumes the next day with a 171.1km Stage Three, considered as the longest and one of the toughest. It will start in Lucena, Quezon through the mountain passes leading to Rizal province and ending in Manila.

Tuesday’s lap will be a 159km Stage Four from Malolos, Bulacan to Tarlac followed by the 151.8-km Stage Five from Tarlac to Dagupan, Pangasinan, the hotbed of cycling greats, and the 152.5-km Stage Six Dagupan to Harrison Ave. to Baguio City.

Capping the race is an 8.8km Stage Seven individual time trial that ends on the peak of Sto. Tomas mountain, considered as the highest point in Baguio and the 90-km Stage Eight criterium that will go around the city before ending at Harrison Ave.

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, NLEX and NLEX Cycling and sanctioned by PhilCycling under Cavite Congressman Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino with TV5 and Sports Radio as media partners.