Asian cycling chief optimistic on Le Tour

The Chief of the Asian Cycling Confederation (ACC) has expressed confidence in another successful staging of the Le Tour de Filipinas, which starts its fifth edition Monday in Clark, Pampanga.

“The organizing committee in the Philippines, which is coming up to become one of the cycling powers in Asia, would be able, as in last year, to put up one of the memorable races of the Le Tour,” ACC president Cho Hee Wok of Korea said.

Wok, an alter ego of International Cycling Union (UCI) President Brian Cookson, has served as ACC head for three terms and has monitored the Le Tour de Filipinas since its 2010 inaugurals.

A core group of the annual race presented by Air21 as an advocacy of cycling godfather and PhilCycling chair Alberto Lina is overseeing preparations in Angeles City during the Lenten break.

The group is composed of Alma Lumibao, Joel Golayan, Egay Lorenzo, Haggie Narag and Joel David.

All 15 teams were all accounted for in Clark Saturday.

The Le Tour also supported by Smart, NLEx, SCTEx, TPLEx, BCDA, Petron, Victory Liner and M. Lhuillier.