3-stage Ronda Visayas leg to replace Mindanao q’fier

RONDA Pilipinas 2015 has added an extra stage to its Visayas qualifying leg to accommodate the cyclists who will be affected by the recent decision to forego the Mindanao leg due to security concerns.

Ronda organizers added the 120-kilometer stage flagging off from the Negros Occidental Provincial Capitol and ending in Cadiz City to replace the two canceled Mindanao laps that would have covered Butuan City, Cagayan de Oro, Tubod in Lanao del Norte and Dipolog City on Feb. 8 and 9.

Instead, this year’s edition, presented by LBC, will roll on Feb. 11 with the three-stage Visayas qualifying leg starting with the 172.7-km Dumaguete-Sipalay lap, followed by the 157.8-km Bacolod-Bacolod stage the next day and the Negros Occidental-Cadiz race on Feb. 13.

Ronda Pilipinas executive project director Moe Chulani said they will arrange free ferry transfers from Dipolog to Dumaguete for the affected Mindanao-based riders.

“We will also increase the number of slots in the Visayas leg to increase their chances of making it to the championship,” said Chulani.

Ronda administration director Jack Yabut  said ferry transfers at Dipolog port will be at 4 a.m., 5 a.m. and 10 a.m.

Registration fee for the Visayas qualifier is P3,000, which will include hotel accommodation for the nights of Feb. 10 to 12 and meals for three race days.