15 teams to dispute 2015 Le Tour crown

Billed as the toughest edition of the annual four-day international race, the 2015 Le Tour de Filipinas will be a grueling road competition among 13 continental teams and two Philippine squads.

“With the continental and (PH) squads, the Le Tour will definitely be most exciting,” said race organizer Donna Lina-Flavier of Ube Media.

Returning to the competition, set in Northern Luzon on Feb. 1 to 4, are continental teams Satalyst Giant Racing Team (Australia), CCN Cycling Team (Brunei), Astana Continental Team (Kazakhstan), Pegasus Continental Cycling Team (Indonesia), TPT Cycling Team (Iran), Terengganu Cycling Team (Malaysia), Bridgestone Anchor Cycling Team (Japan) and 7-Eleven (PH).

Joining them are first-timers Novo Nordisk (US), RTS Carbon (Taiwan), Attaque Team Gusto (Taiwan), Pishgaman Yazd Pro Cycling Team (Iran) and Singha Infinite Cycling Team (Thailand).

Also vying for the title is the Philippine team, which is preparing for the Asian Road and Track Championships in late February and the Southeast Asian Games in Singapore in June.

National riders from Uzbekistan are similarly hoping to stay sharp and ready for the Asian championships in the race that will end with the punishing Stage Four to Baguio City through the famous Kennon Road.

Stage One on Feb. 1 will be a 126-kilometer Balanga to Balanga swing in Bataan, Stage 2 on Feb. 2 a 153.75 km ride from Balanga to Iba, Zambales, and Stage 3 on Feb. 3 a 149.34 km speed race from Iba to Lingayen, Pangasinan.

The Le Tour has been included in the Department of Tourism’s Visit the Philippines 2015 program.

A continental team is a UCI-registered squad made up of riders of various nationalities.