Mark Galedo CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/Jazy Garcia
Mark Galedo is always thrilled at the prospect of ruling Le Tour de Filipinas.
As one of two Filipino champions in the history of the four-day cycling spectacle, the all-rounder from 7-Eleven Cliqq Road Bike Philippines thrives at the challenge of becoming the only two-time winner in the race sanctioned by UCI, the international cycling body.
“I keep myself in great shape before getting on the road,” said Galedo, a three-time Tour champion and individual time trial gold medalist in the 2015 Southeast Asian Games in Singapore.
Once the 151.32-kilometer opening stage from Quezon City to Palayan City, Nueva Ecija, on May 20 kicks off, Galedo will realize that it will be a much tougher race to win, as the best local riders in the country will mix it up with the top cyclists in the continent.
A total of 80 riders from 16 teams have signed up, 10 of them foreign squads led by Pishgaman Cycling Team from Iran, Brisbane Continental Cycling Team and Interpro Cycling Academy from Thailand featuring last year’s yellow-jersey winner, Daniel Whitehouse, according to Donna May Lina, president of organizer Ube Media Inc.