Ronda Mindanao kicks off Feb. 20

RONDA Pilipinas, the showpiece event in local cycling, will ride on a bigger race next year starting with the Mindanao leg on Feb. 20.

On its sixth year, the 15-stage Ronda kicks off on the roads of Butuan City going to Cagayan de Oro and Malaybalay, Bukidnon, before holding another five stages in Visayas in March and Luzon the following month.

Riders will compete in a mixture of road race, individual time trial and criterium races.

“We need to adapt to the way races are being done in the world stage as this project grooms champions for flag and country,” said Ronda sports development head Moe Chulani, adding that they are committed to contribute to the grassroots program of PhilCycling under Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino. June Navarro