RONDA Pilipinas will introduce new innovations when it kicks off its sixth edition starting with the five-stage Mindanao leg from Feb. 20 to 27.
To keep up with international trends, Ronda organizers will hold a combination of road race, individual time trial and criterium races instead of the usual massive road races.
The Mindanao leg will pass through Butuan City, Cagayan de Oro, Malaybalay and Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon.
It will likewise focus not just in discovering talents from the countryside but also in getting the fans more involved with their newly-introduced community ride.
“We want all the cities, towns and provinces we will visit to have a chance to see our riders and our races,” said Ronda sports development head Moe Chulani of the event presented by LBC and backed by major sponsors Manny V. Pangilinan Sports Foundation, Petron and Versa Radio-Tech 1 Corp. and minor sponsors Maynilad and NLEX.
This year’s race will have three separate overall winners from Mindanao, Visayas and Luzon. It will officially start on Feb. 20 with a road race from Butuan City.