INQUIRER Sports

WITH THE MULTI-STAGE SUMMER bikathon cancelled this year, the elite riders are set to engage in one of the most back-breaking journeys in cycling lore.

The historic Manila-Baguio route will be the devil which 96 cyclists try to conquer when the one-day Liquigaz Race To The Lion’s Head starts today at the Quezon Memorial Circle.

Irish Villanueva and Baler Ravina, two of the most promising riders in the field, will be the captains of their respective teams as they go up against several names that have become familiar in the sport for the past decade.

Former Tour champions Victor Espiritu, Warren Davadilla, Arnel Quirimit and Santy Barnachea will contend for the individual crown along with veteran riders Merculio Ramos, Erick Feliciano, Lloyd Reynante, Bernard Luzon, Emetilano Atilano and Ericson Obosa.

Former Eagle of the Mountain and Philippine National Cycling Association president Paquito Rivas said the 96 riders had gone through a qualifying phase and survived the grueling Tagaytay Eagle of the Mountain race held in February.

A total pot of P375,000 will be at stake with the champion team getting P75,000 while the individual winner stands to get P10,000. The King of the Mountain and Sprint King will receive P5,000 each. All the 12 teams of eight riders each are assured of cash prizes.

“It was announced that there will be no Tour this summer and this race will somehow help keep our cyclists in tip-top condition,” said Arnel Ty, president of the sponsoring Liquigaz Philippines Corporation.

The race starts at 7 a.m. with Quezon City Mayor Sonny Belmonte leading a simple kick-off rite for the cyclists also to be attended by Quezon City representative Nanette Daza Castelo, Liquigaz managing director Patrick Lidihoul and councilors Candy Medina and Winnie Castelo.

Bankrolled by Liquigaz Philippines Corporation, the 250-kilometer, Manila-Baguio City race is a throwback during the formative years of the multi-stage bike contest. The same beaten track paved the way for the fabled Tour before it was renamed Padyak Pinoy.

From Quezon Memorial Circle, the race will shoot through North Avenue and Edsa before turning right to McArthur Highway in Monumento. The riders will negotiate the flat lands of Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac and Pangasinan before the killer ascent on Kennon Road.