Reversed route offers different look.
The Le Tour De Filipinas returns for its eighth edition on Feb. 18 to 21 offering “the same, but different” routes in Southern Luzon.
Race organizers decided to start the four-day bikefest this time in Legazpi City in Albay and end in Lucena City in Quezon with an overall distance of 726.55 kilometers.
“It is almost the same route but we decided to reverse it from south to north. It gives a different perspective and challenge for our cyclists,” said Donna Lina, president of Le Tour organizer UBE Media Inc.
Stage 1 will have a 164.50-km course from Legazpie to Sorsogon, followed by Stage 2 from Sorsogon to Naga City (177.35kms), Stage 3 from Naga City to Daet, Camarines Norte (177.35kms), and Stage 4 from Daet to Lucena City (207.35kms).
“The route is more technical this time because of the gradual upward gradient from Sorsogon to Lucena City, so we’re expecting an exciting race,” added Lina.
A total of 15 local and foreign teams will be participating in the race including six international squads belonging to the Top 30 team under last year’s UCI Asia Ranking.
The Philippines will also field two teams – one national team and one represented by 7-Eleven.
With the PH team participating, the race could also be a gauge for the country’s participation in the 29th Southeast Asian Games in Malaysia in August.
Among the squads competing are Oliver’s Real Food Racing (Australia), Keyi Look Sport Cycling (China), Attaque Team Gusto (Chinese Taipei), Kinan Cycling Team (Japan), Team Ukyo (Japan), Bridgesstone Anchor Cycling (Japan), Cartucho.es Pro Cycling (Kuwait), CCN Cycling Team (Laos), Terengganu Cylcing Team (Malaysia), LX Pro Cycling Team (South Korea), Korail Cycling Team (South Korea), Nice Cycling (Switzerland), and the Uzbekistan National Team.
Defending champion Oleg Zemlyakov and his Vino Forever Team would not be returning after the Kazakh rider has gone up the UCI Road ladder last year.
But 2015 winner Thomas Lebas of France was listed on Kinan Cycling Team’s roster for the Category 2.2 race.