Chase for Le Tour glory starts today

The scenic hills of Antipolo will serve as witnesses to the excitement of the 75 riders – all seeking greatness – aside from being the starting point as the 2016 Le Tour de Filipinas kicks off what could be another frenetic fourstage race down south starting today.

A total 15 teams – their riders coming from 12 different countries – will be gutting it out in the first stage, a 148.9 kilometer road race from Antipolo City to Lucena City in Quezon Province.

The race, organized by Ube Media Inc. headed by its President Donna Lina and presented by Air21, will be fired off at 8:30 a.m. at the Sumulong Park – in front of the Shrine of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage where Filipino riders have sought for divine guidance as early as last Sunday in their bids to surprise their foreign rivals – and will culminate at the Lucena City Hall.

All eyes will be on reigning champion Thomas Lebas of the Bridgestone Anchor Cycling Team. The Frenchman is out to become the first backto-back winner of the event which has Petron, MVP Sports Foundation and Smart as principal sponsors.

“I expect a tough ride from the other cyclists but I believe me and my team will be up to the challenge,” said Lebas, who won last year’s event that ended in Baguio City.

His biggest hurdle will be in the form of 2012 Le Tour champion Baler Ravina and Felipe Marcelo who will be spearheading the 7-Eleven Philippines alongside Jay Lampawog and foreigners Edgar Nieto and Jesse James Ewart.

The national team also well represented with Rustom Lim, George Oconer, Ronald Oranza and John Mark Camingao out to steal the limelight from the tour’s big guns.

Also in the radar is the Cebu Kopiko squad composed of Ronnel Hualda, John Mier, Elmer Navarro, Jay Bop Pagnanawon and Oscar Rendole.