Larga Pilipinas returns with a six -phase bicycle race in August

This year, Larga Pilipinas is putting in its multi-phase bicycle race, with a route of six legs that will start in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija on 2 August and ends in Baguio City on August 7.

The event marks the return of the group to competitive roads seven years after the last race in 2018, which attracted more than 10,000 participants in Edsa and Marikina. Organizers still expect a strong turnout.

“We call this a folk race and a race for everyone,” said Larga Pilipinas Operations Director Snow Badua during Tuesday’s launch. “So we expect a larger turnout than the previous one.”

Ten professional teams are expected to participate, including Go For Gold, Standard Insurance-Navy, excellent noodles, D-Reyna Orion Cement and Metro Pacific Tollways DriveHub, the reigning tour through Luzon Champion, according to Larga Pilipinas Chair Attyty. Froi Dayco.

The race covers 809 kilometers over six stages, including flat terrain, rolling hills and mountain climbs. It is punished by Philcycling and supported by private sponsors.
In contrast to the tour by Luzon, who tested riders under intense summer heat, this racing could have rainy conditions, especially in the northern legs.

“Part of the challenge is the weather and the roads when it rains,” said Dayco. “We just hope for good weather in August.”

Four of the six phases will contain climbs, making the route suitable for climbing specialists, according to Philcycling Elite Commissaire Sunshine Joy Vallejos. “The race is in favor of climbers, but strategy will still play a major role.”

The first two legs are relatively flat:

• Phase 1: 197 km, Body salatanna
• Phase 2: 146 km, Cabanathan to Mangaldan

The remaining four phases are climbing:

• Phase 3: 146 km, Mangaldan to Bayombong
• Phase 4: 95.2 km, Bayombong to Banaue
• Phase 5: 83.1 km, Banaue to Sagada
• Phase 6: 142 km, Sagada to Baguuo

“This will be the race of a climber,” said Standard Insurance Team Director Reinhard Gorrantes. His team, led by veterans Ronald Oranza, George Oconer, Ronald Lomotos and Junrey Navarra, is considered one of the early contenders.