Locals hope to outrace foreign cyclists in 502-km Le Tour de Filipinas

The cyclist with the strongest pair of legs and backed by a team that could draw the best strategy in Stage Four's arduous climb would dominate the 2012 Le Tour de Filipinas. This was according to 1979 Tour champion Paquito Rivas, who described the 2012 Le Tour as a sprinter's paradise in the first three stages before testing the top climbers in the final leg—a treacherous climb from Bayombong City to Baguio City via the Benguet backdoor. "It will be a difficult climb. Unlike before, Kennon Road is the only uphill stage. This time, the last stage will really test your skills and strength," said Rivas, who is still known to be the Tour's Eagle of the Mountain. The Le Tour opening stage on April 14 is a 155-kilometer leg from Port Irene in Sta. Ana, Cagayan province to the provincial capitol Tuguegarao City. Stage Two, on April 15, is a 110-km journey from Tuguegarao to Cauyan while the April 16 Stage Three is a 102-km ride to Bayombong. Stage Four, April 17, is the Le Tour's highlight where riders take on the 153-km climb from Bayombong to Burnham Park in Baguio City. The picturesque mountains of the Cordilleras will serve as the backdrop of the final stage where cyclists negotiate the course that includes Ambuklao Dam and Mt. Pulag, Luzon's highest peak. It consists of two King of the Mountain summits situated roughly 5,000 feet above sea level. "Our local cyclists will have their hands full since most of the foreign riders are strong climbers," added Rivas, whose Philippine National Cycling Association is again managing Dynamic Outsource Solutions-organized race. Eleven foreign teams and five local squads make up the field in the 2012 Le Tour, which is the only international race in the country that is on the International Cycling Union's (UCI, Union Cycliste Internationale) Asian Tour calendar. The race is also sanctioned by the Abraham Tolentino-led PhilCycling. Go21, Mail and More, Smart-PhilCycling, American Vinyl and Kia are the local squads. The Foreign teams are TPT Cycling (Iran), Terenganu Cycling (Malaysia), Suren (Uzbekistan), Aisan Racing Team (Japan) Dutch Global (Netherlands), CCN (Chinese Taipei), OCBC (Singapore), Pure Black (New Zealand), Plan B (Australia), RTS/GiandKenda (Chinese Taipei) and Colossi Miche (Indonesia).   UCI international commissaire Omar Ibrahim of Malaysia will be the chief commissaire with the assistance of PhilCycling commissaires and officials. — JVP, GMA News