OWING to the simultaneous holding of the Philippines two major cycling races, Pangasinan, for the first time, will be rooting only for four homegrown cyclists in the four-day 2016 Le Tour de Filipinas that pedaled off on February 18 at Antipolo City to Lucena City.

Led by 2012 Le Tour winner Baler Ravina of Asingan, 2015 World Championship veteran Dominic Perez of Santo Tomas and upcoming Jay Lampawog of Villasis joined Ravina’s 7-Eleven SAVA Road Bike Philippines ten-man elite squad. They are joined by two-time Tour champion and internationalist Mark Lexer Galedo, Ryan Cayubit, Nelson Martin, James Ewart, RJ Peralta, Felipe Marcelo and Edgar Nieto. Another local bet Mark Julius Bonzo of Sual suited up for the National squad.

Conspicuously absent are Pangasinan’s elite and seasoned riders Ronald Oranza of Villasis and the Carino brothers Joshua and Daniel Ven of Mangaldan who chose to join the all-Filipino and purse-rich Ronda Pilipinas that kicked off yesterday in Butuan City for the five-day Mindanao leg.

Ronda’s defending champion Santy Barnachea from Umingan is not joining any of the two big races due to a family problem. (JAG, Jr.)

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