An artist’s rendition of the CCLEX bridge accentuates its breathtaking view. —CEBU DAILY NEWS
Hovering 52 meters above the Mactan Channel, the newly-opened Cebu–Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX) bridge will provide not only a breathtaking view for all participants in the Megaworld Ironman 70.3 Philippines, but also seems to hold the key with the bike stage of the race taking three loops there.
The 90-kilometer bike race starts at Mactan Newtown to Manuel L. Quezon National Highway to the southern part of Lapu-Lapu City to the Municipality of Cordova and then to Gabi Pilipog circumferential road and exit to CCLEX bridge.
Participants then make the first turn around the South Road Properties (SRP) at Kilometer 23 then back to CCLEX, head to the second turnaround at KM 34 and back to SRP for the second loop before making another turnaround at KM 45 then back to CCLEX for the next turnaround at KM 56.
They then head to SRP for the final loop at KM 66, back to CCLEX and exit at KM 79 before heading back to Mactan Newtown.
The organizing Ironman Group/Sunrise Events, Inc. is pursuing new ways to challenge the triathletes and continue to provide them an exceptional racing experience with the bike route at CCLEX serving as one of the highlights for this year’s race.
Favorites
Meanwhile, Czech Petr Lukosz looms as one of the top favorites when the race is flagged off on Sunday with the 40-year-old coming off a win in Subic last May where he timed nine hours, 52 minutes and 34 seconds for the full triathlon distance of 3.8-kilometer swim, 180-km bike and 42-km run.
Filipino Jethro Ramos placed second in that race, and together with Sunlife 5150 winner Satar Salem, loom as the country’s brightest chances.
Sunday’s race will be a 1.9-km swim, 90-km bike and 21-k run and drew 1,898 entries from 46 countries, which offers titles in 12 age-group categories on a refreshed racecourse.
Lukosz and Ramos also head the 40-44 bracket even as trophies in the all-male and all-female relays and mixed relay events are also up for grabs