Tour of Matabungkay kicks off Oct. 19

MANILA, Philippines – The stage is set for one of the Philippines’ biggest and most awaited cycling events, the 2012 Tour of Matabungkay (TOM) in Batangas.

“It’s that time of the year again and we are so excited about this year’s TOM. New routes, new categories, more and more teams joining, very exciting indeed,” 3Q’s Consultancy Philippines Inc. said in a statement.

At least 30 cycling teams from all over the Philippines and from other countries will be competing for more than 120 awards. Major awards include TOM 2012 Overall Team Champion, Overall Individual Champion, and Pinoy Rider of the Year will be up for grabs, the statement said.

The TOM is now in its ninth year and has brought cyclists together for the three-day race that is held in Lian, Batangas from October 19 to 21.

3Q’s Consultancy Philippines Inc.’s Baterna Brothers: Jojo and Quin calls for participants of this year’s Tour of Matabungkay.

The tour will have four stages spread in the three days. “Day one starts with two stages: a 20km Individual Time Trial on a hilly course in the morning and a challenging 70 km road race climbing the slopes of Hamilo in the afternoon. Day two is the popular 130km Payapa route. And Day three is the 40km Team Time Trial.”

More than 120 awards will be up for grabs at the 2012 Tour of Matabungkay that will be held from October 19-21 in Lian, Batangas.

Categories include the Open category for 24 year old and below where participants will be eligible for the major awards, 25-35 category, 36-35 category, 46 and above category, and Women’s open category for all ages.

“We have been getting emails from cyclists who enjoyed last year’s TOM so much that this year, they’ve decided to have their families tag along,” Jojo and Quin Baterna, organizers of TOM, said in their statement.

“At the end of the day, that’s what makes this all worthwhile, that somehow you feel you did good and that it’s appreciated,” they said.