Ronda Pilipinas tour eyes young, new riders

The Ronda Pilipinas will dig deep into the grassroots to unearth new talents for the national team when cycling’s biggest race hits the road next month.

Ronda Pilipinas executive project director Moe Chulani said yesterday that the bikathon’s new focus will be on discovering young and talented cyclists.

The multistage race is set to flag off in Butuan City on Feb. 8 and wind up in Baguio on Feb. 27.

“This year, we’ve veered away from the old practice of allowing teams to form their own group,” said Chulani.

Ronda administration director Jack Yabut said the fifth edition of the race will encourage talented junior riders aged 17 to 18 years to participate.

“We’re trying to draw young talents, particularly those in the 17 to 18 age group,” Yabut said during yesterday’s Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum at Shakey’s Malate.

The Mindanao qualifying is slated Feb. 8 and 9, the Visayas qualifying takes off on Feb. 11 and 12, and the Luzon stage gets going on Feb. 15 and 16.

Some 100 riders are expected to advance to the championship race in Luzon along with the country’s top riders, led by 2014 Ronda champion Reimon Lapaza, three-time Tour winner Mark Galedo of 7-11 Road Bike Philippines and national ace Ronald Oranza.

They will battle against a nine-man European squad made up mostly of Danish riders for the champion’s purse of P1 million put up by LBC.