22 foreign teams vie for berths in Le Tour

MANILA, Philippines - The seventh edition of the Le Tour de Filipinas, the only International Cycling Union (UCI)-calendared road race in the country, has lured 19 continental and three club teams when it is staged Feb. 18-21, 2016.

Teams from US, Europe and all over Asia have applied for participation in the upcoming race, which will head down south for the first time in its seven years of staging.

Asking to be invited for the first time in the Le Tour de Filipinas are continental teams Minsk Cycling Club (Belarus), Skydive Dubai Pro Cycling Team (United Arab Emirates), Team Sauerland p/b Henley & Partners (Germany), Team LVShan Landscape (China), GM Cycling Team (Italy), Dynamo Cover Pro Cycling Team (France), Kinan Cycling Team (Japan), Kenyan Riders Down Under (South Africa), Team Veral Classic (Belgium) and Alpha Baltic Maratoni Cycling Team (Latvia).

Seeking to return to action on Philippine soil are Team Ukyo (Japan), Bridgestone Anchor Cycling Team (Japan), Team Novo Nordisk (USA), LX Cycling Team (Korea), Team Arbo Denzel Cliff (Austria), CCN Cycling Team (Laos), Dutch Global Cycling Team (Netherlands), Korail Cycling Continental Team (Korea), Attaque Team Gusto (Taiwan) and Pegasus Continental Cycling Team (Indonesia). All are also continental teams.

Club teams from Britain (Archive Northside Skinnergate Team) Lithuania (Team Baltik Vairas) and Australia (Oliver’s Real Food Racing Team) are also lured to the Le Tour de Filipinas.

“We get requests for invitation from all over the world in each edition of the Le Tour de Filipinas,” Donna Lina, president of race organizer Ube Media Inc., said on Wednesdsay. “This goes to show that racing in the Philippines is not only about the level of competition, but also the fun that the event brings with it.”

“The Le Tour de Filipinas has the promotion of cycling as its primary objective, but the same premium is focused on promoting the Philippines as a tourist destination,” Lina added.

Three Philippine teams – 7-Eleven Road Bike Philippines (continental), PhilCycling National Under-23 Team and Cebu Cycling Team (club) – are also seeking to be invited the Category 2.2 race (multi-stage road race) that covers close to 600 kilometers from Antipolo City in Rizal province to Legaspi City in Albay with the majestic Mayon Volcano as backdrop to the final two stages.

Stage One on Feb. 18 will be from Antipolo to Lucena in Quezon Province, while Stage Two will start from Lucena and end in Daet, Camarines Norte.

Stage Three will fire off from Daet and end in Legaspi and Stage Four will be an out-and-back race in Legaspi City with the cyclists racing the perimeter of Mayon Volcano.