France’s Le Bellec favored to rule Powerman Duathlon Pilipinas

MANILA, Philippines – World champion duathlete Gael Le Bellec of France leads a dozen other foreign participants in the Powerman Duathlon Pilipinas slated on Nov. 15 in Balanga Bataan.

Le Bellec is coming off a sensational victory in the elite division of the 2014 International Triathlon Union Powerman Long Distance Duathlon World Championship in Zofingen, Switzerland last year, making him the heavy favorite to win the event.

In winning in Zofingen, Le Bellec bested 32 other professionals by clocking six hours, 21 minutes and 47 seconds in the 10-kilometer run, 150-km bike and 30-km run race.

The 26-year-old Frenchman should have an easier time in the Powerman Duathlon Pilipinas, which will hold a shorter distance of five-km run, 30-km bike and 5-km run.

Veteran mulit-sports and adventure racer Thumbie Remigio teamed up with multi-sport enthusiast Tobias Bernardo and restaurateur Raymund Magdaluyo to bring the Powerman to the country for the first time ever.

“The Philippines will be only Powerman venue in Asia so we’re expecting a lot of foreign athletes to participate aside from our local racers,” said Bernardo in a presser at the Alphaland Makati Monday.

In September last year, International Powerman Association president John Raadschelders invited Remigio and Bernardo to witness the World Championships in Zofingen that led to the Philippines’ eventual hosting of the prestigious race.

Bernardo said the Powerman Duathlon Pilipinas is serving as a qualifying event for the ITU Powerman Long Distance Duathlon Championship this year.

Duathlon is considered a close cousin to triathlon, a swim-bike-run race, without the water or swimming part.

The country has been a breeding ground for tough, no-nonsense duathletes like Robeno Javier, Carlos Pedregosa, Robinson Esteves, Jeff Valdez, Joey delos Reyes, Ryan Mendoza, Mirasol Abad and multi-titled triathlete August Benedicto.