FOR the past four decades, the town of
Binmaley has not organized any cycling road race in even as part of the
celebration of its town fiesta. The last time the municipality staged such
event was in 1964 won by hometown boy Jesse Decano, the younger sibling of
Victor, a well-known stalwart of Pangasinan team during 60's of the fabled
Tour of Luzon era.
Finally, Binmaley found a hizzoner sports
buff, not only in basketball, billards and boxing but in cycling as well.
Yes, a big sporting event will be staged anew during the town fiesta bash.
Through the initiative of Mayor Simplicio L.
Rosario, the municipality will hold an open bikefest on January 28. A total
of P37,000 cash prizes will be up for grabs plus trophies that will be
sponsored by the mayor's friends.
Dubbed as "Mayor's Tour de Binmaley," the
event will start and end at the town proper with some 60 pro-am cyclists
from the province and neighboring places expected to participate.
From Binmaley, the contestants will traverse
the city of San Carlos, towns of Basista, Urbiztondo, Mangatarem, Aguilar,
Bugallon, Quibaol junction (Lingayen), and end in Binmaley.
Back in the town , the cyclists will zoom
through barangays Basing, Dulag, Iglesia, Nagpalangan, Naguelguel, Lomboy,
Biec, Canaoalan, Linoc, Manat, back to Binmaley town proper, Caloocan Sur,
Tondaligan, Caloocan Norte, San Isidro Sur, San Isidro Norte, Baybay Lopez,
Baybay Polong, Tonton (Lingayen), Mckinley, then finishes at People's Park
at downtown area with an approximate distance of 111 kilometers.
The champion will be awarded P7,000 plus
trophy.First and second runners-up receive P5,000 and P4,000 and also with
trophies, respectively. Fourth finisher earns P3,000 while fifth placer is
worth P2,000.
Sixth to tenth finishers net P1,000 each,
11th to 20th placers is good for P300 apiece.
All survivors will receive P200 each.
"We believe that through holding sports
activities is the best way to curb or minimize the drug menace that is
hurting now our society," said Rosario.
"And through sporting competitions, this is
the best way to discover new talents from our province to become another
national champions someday, and who knows, an international medalists in the
future," he added.
The event will be organized by a committee
chaired by Edgar Ocampo and vice chair Fernando Ferrer and will be assisted
by Gabriel Cornel, Rodolfo Benitez, Crispino Sandoval, Eldimar Rosario and
all the barangay captains.
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