Cycling: 4-time UCI champs TPT among continental teams in PHL Tour

Four-time International Cycling Union (Union Cycliste Internationale, UCI) Asia Tour team champions TPT or Tabriz Petrochemical Cycling Team will be leading six other continental teams in the 2012 Le Tour de Filipinas. A continental team is ranked as a third division professional team by the UCI, cycling's world governing body that sanctions the 2012 Le Tour. A continental team is the first step for a squad to reach UCI's first and second division World Tour or Pro teams that compete in the elite racing events, namely the Tour de France, Vuelta España and Giro de Italia. TPT was the team champion from 2007 to 2010 UCI Asia Tour after collecting the most points after each season. Four members of the squad also emerged as the individual champion on the same year they ruled the season-points event. CCN from the Netherlands, Japan's Aisan Racing Team, Singapore's OCBC, Uzbekistan Suren from Uzbekistan, and Chinese Taipei's Giant Kenda/RTS and Action are the other continental teams. The foreign participation in the 2012 Le Tour actually drew a total of 12 foreign squads, the other four being club teams and one the Indonesian National Team. Dutch Global (Netherlands), Plan B (Australia), Pure Black (New Zealand) and Colossi Miche (Indonesia) are the club teams that are bound to become continental squads in the near future. Go21, Mail and More, Smart-PhilCycling National Team, American Vinly/LPGMA and Kia are the five local squads. For a multi-stage race to be calendared by the UCI on a continental tour, in this case the Asia Tour, it must include no less than five continental teams. Le Tour de Filipinas' first two editions drew five continental teams. The 2012 Le Tour kicks off on April 14 from Sta. Ana to Tuguegarao City in Cagayan province for a distance covering 155 kilometers, followed by a 110-km stage two from Tuguegarao to Cauayan City the next day. The 102-km third stage from Cauayan to Bayombong City will be held on April 16 while the newest mountain route via the Cordillera backdoor—the 153-km stage four from Bayombong to Burnham Park in Baguio City is set on April 17. — JVP, GMA News