Filipino Le Tour riders contest Asiad berths

MANILA, Philippines — Filipino riders will have a chance to earn national team berths in the 17th Asian Games in South Korea when they race against a tough international field in the 2014 Le Tour de Filipinas.

PhilCycling president and Cavite 7th District Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino Tuesday announced that the top Filipino finishers in the four-day bikathon have strong chances of earning slots in the national team to the Asiad slated Sept. 19 to Oct. 4.

“The Le Tour de Filipinas has always been a determinant on how strong our cyclists are because it is an international race participated in not only by the best cyclists in Asia, but also potent riders from around the world,” said Tolentino.

Of the 15 teams that will race in the Le Tour, an advocacy of PhilCycling chair Bert Lina and presented by Air21, 13 are foreign with the majority of them continental squads registered with the International Cycling Union.

The local teams are 7-Eleven Road Bike Philippines, powered by 2012 Le Tour champion Jonifer “Baler” Ravina and two-time Tour winner Mark Galedo, and Philippine Navy-Standard Insurance.