By Kristel Satumbaga
LAPU LAPU CITY – More than the excitement to compete with the best, participants are eager to face the challenge of the new bike route in today’s 2018 Regent Aguila Ironman 70.3 Philippines Asia-Pacific Championship at the Shangri-La Mactan Resort and Spa here.
“There’s a little bit of climbing in there – and opportunity to descend really fast and hopefully split up the group, so it’s going to be an exciting stage,” said two-time Ironman 70.3 Asia Pacific champion Tim Reed of Australia.
The 90-km bike rout will bring participants to the cities of Talisay, Mandaue, Cebu and Lapu Lapu, with scenic views and cross wind conditions are in store.
After tackling the Marcelo Fernan bridge, they will bike towards the Cebu International Convention Center then head underneath the iconic Plaza Independencia through the Cebu South Coastal Road Tunnel.
They will also pass through the well-paved roads of Cebu South Coastal Road before going to Talisay City.
Thirty-four pros are vying for the top honors in the 1.9km swim, 90km bike, 21.2km run event which stakes slots to the 2019 Ironman 70.3 World Championship in Nice, France.
“I have a huge amount of respect for these guys. They give a lot of dynamics to the race, so it’s going to be a fun and competitive race to the finish line,” said Reed, who finished third in the Ironman 70.3 Philippines last year in Subic Bay.
Also headlining the stellar cast are Czech Republic’s Radka Kahlefeldt, who won this year’s Ironman 70.3 in Davao and last year’s Ironman 70.3 in Subic, four-time Ironman 70.3 Philippines winner Caroline Steffen, two-time Ironman 70.3 world champion Melissa Hauschildt, this year’s Ironman 70.3 Davao winner Mauricio Mendez and three-time Ironman world champion Craig Alexander.
Meanwhile, Zedrick Borja ruled the Ironkids 13-14 category by a hairline by clocking 38 minutes and 24 seconds, beating Clifford Pusing (38:24.1). Cebuana Moria Frances Erediano reigned in the distaff side in 41:12.7.
Other winners were Justin Hermosa (34:49.2) and Kira Ellis (38:02.2) in the 11-12 class, Caroon Cañas (27:48.5) and Zurielle Galo (30:08.5) in the 9-10 play, and Kenshie Luke Cabando (18:52.7) and Christy Ann Perez (21:51.1) in the 6-8 division.
