NINETEEN Pangasinan professional-amateur cyclists, who hurdled the two-day qualifying races last February 12 and 13, will vie for honors in the annual summer bikathon ‘Tour Pilipinas ‘Padyak Pinoy’ on May 11-21.

As in the past three years, the province’s “boys of summer” will be led again by 2003 Tour Pilipinas champion Arnel Quirimit of Pozorrubio, last year’s “rookie of the year” Renato Sembrano of Mangaldan, 2003 Southeast Asia Games veterans Reynaldo Navarro and Ericson Obosa of San Jacinto and Manaoag, respectively, and 2002 Tour of Calabarzon king Santy Barnachea of Umingan.

According to the Philippine National Cycling Association, 80 participants with eight members per squad will be divided into ten teams, with Quirimit, Sembrano, Navarro, Obosa and Barnachea leading five different squads each to balance the team competitions.

The other Pangasinan pedal-pushers expected to bring honors for the province are Adrian Malanum and Ariel Flores of Mangaldan, Renier Clauna and Allan Garcia of Bugallon, Harvey Sicam and Edgardo Bollezer of San Manuel, Rene Esteban and Ardie Bucao of San Fabian, the Calosa cousins Wilfredo, Reynaldo and Pepito of San Jacinto, Gerry Ildefenso and Crisanto Lopez of Asingan and Rainier Austria of Manaoag.

The 11-day 10-stage summer sports spectacle will start in Quezon City and end at Luneta in Manila.  The lap terminals will be in the cities of Cabanatuan, Olongapo, Dagupan, Vigan, Baguio (twice), Angeles and Tagaytay (twice) with a total distance of 1,666 kilometers.

Defending champion Warren Davadilla aims to win his third Tour title which will be worth P150,000. Davadilla won his first crown in the now defunct Marlboro Tour in 1998.

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