World duathlon champ heads elite foreign cast

MANILA, Philippines - World duathlon champion Gael Le Bellec of France brings his world-class act in November when he leads a dozen other foreign participants in the Powerman Duathlon Pilipinas slated in Balanga, Bataan.

Le Bellec posted 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 duathlete to beat in the upcoming event.

In winning in Zofingen, Le Bellec bested 32 other pros with a clocking of six hours, 21 minutes, 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 multi-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 the only Powerman venue in Asia so we’re expecting a lot of foreign athletes to participate aside from our local racers,” said Bernardo in the press launch 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 Duathlong 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 produced top duathletes like Robeno Javier, Carlos Pedregosa, Robinson Esteves, Jeff Valdez, Joey delos Reyes, Ryan Mendoza, Mirasol Abad and multi-titled triathlete August Benedicto through the years.