38 Ronda slots up for grabs

Jan Paul Morales. Photo by Celest Flores-Colina/INQUIRER.net

DANAO CITY—Reigning titlist Jan Paul Morales and 170 others will compete in Saturday’s speed test that will also award 38 slots for the multistage LBC Ronda Pilipinas set March next year.

Morales has already made it to the 11-lap race proper and will use the event, the second and last qualifying race, as part of his preparation.

There are 38 remaining slots available in the one-day speed test that will begin at Danao City Hall and end at Plaza Rizal here.

The 38 will complete the 96-rider cast, which include the 20 seeded cyclists from last year’s edition and the 38 other qualifiers who passed the grade in the initial test race in Tarlac City in September.

Former champions Santy Barnachea and Irish Valenzuela will also race in the largely flat route that will cover 161 kilometers.