The PhilCycling National Trials for Road will kick off this weekend at the Clark Freeport and Special Economic Zone in Pampanga, with 116 cyclists competing in individual time trial (ITT) criterium and massed start races.
The trials will determine the members of the national team.
A total of 13 women will race against the clock in a 17.1-kilometer course for the ITT starting at 8 a.m. Half an hour later, 54 men will also compete in their ITT over a 24.6-km loop.
Also on tap for Saturday are criterium races set at the 2.3-km perimeter of the Clark Parade Grounds. The women will race 16 laps while the men will race 20 laps.
There will be three intermediate sprints for the women in the criterium and four for the men.
The road races will be held on Sunday.
“We will be witnessing competitive cycling right on Day 1 of the Trials and with the road races set for Sunday, this event is one compact competition,” Philippine Olympic Committee and PhilCycling president Rep. Abraham Tolentino said.
The races will be held in a bubble-type environment set up by the Bases Conversion Development Authority and the Clark Development Corp. All participants and officials have to undergo RT-PCR and Antigen testing and no spectators will be allowed during the event.