15 teams join P10-M bike race

The Go Philippines Tour 2022, a multistage bikathon that will pedal for 16 legs over 22 days across the country, gets going on Feb. 14 in Davao City.

The tournament marks the return of big-time cycling in the pandemic era, with organizers offering a total prize kitty of P10 million in the hopes of coming up with a nationwide spectacle cyclists reminiscent of past celebrated races such as the Tour of Luzon and the Marlboro Tour.

“We know how our local cycling fans and riders have been hungry to have another big cycling competition and this is our answer to that,’’ said Go Philippines Tour event director Ric Rodriguez during the press launch Thursday night at the City of Dreams in Parañaque City.

Rodriguez said the Tour will traverse the Eastern seaboard of the archipelago with a fiesta atmosphere in every finish line that can help boost the livelihood of local residents.

“We are just as excited with Rodriguez in the staging of this event that will be anticipated by local riders and cycling fans alike,’’ said Go Philippines Tour chief executive officer Marian Romilyn Galanza.

90 cyclists

The races, featuring 90 cyclists from 15 teams representing various regions and provinces in the country, will have stops in Bukidnon, Cagayan de Oro, Tacloban City, Borongan City in Samar and Legazpi City in Bicol, passing through several top scenic and tourist attractions along the way.

“This will help our local cyclists earn a living while doing the sport that they love after being out of serious competition for two years,’’ said 7Eleven Road Bike Philippines team owner Bong Sual.

From Mindanao, Eastern Visayas and Bicol, the Tour will go up North as far as Vigan in Ilocos Sur before finishing in Baguio City.

Rodriguez has tapped Malaysian Jamaludin Mahmoud, the man behind the world famous Tour de Langkawi, as the chief commissar of the race.