Two-time winner Santy Barnachea leads a big cast of aspirants seeking the 30 berths staked when the LBC Ronda Pilipinas 2017 edition holds its first of two qualifying races today at the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority in Zambales City.
The 35-year-old Barnachea, who won the inaugural edition of this race five years ago before claiming a second title in the fifth edition four years later, needed to go through the qualifier after skipping last year’s race due to personal reasons and should be determined to make the cut.
Barnachea though will be battling against more than 80 riders that also included notable stars like Army’s Merculio Ramos, Alfie Catalan, Cris Joven, Mark Julius Bordeos and Alvin Benosa and young Navy recruit Jay Lampawog in the country’s biggest cycling race bankrolled by LBC.
“Some of the biggest names in Philippine cycling are joining as well as some new ones whon are seeking glory so we’re expecting a really exciting qualifying race,” said LBC sports development head Moe Chulani.
Apart from the one-day Subic race, Ronda will also hold a second qualifier on Dec. 4 in Bacolod City where another 30 slots will be up for grabs in this event backed by Mitsubishi, Petron, ASG Group, Dans360 and Donen and sanctioned by PhilCycling under its president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino.