A millionaire cyclist coming up

By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.

I WROTE here on the May 29, 2011 issue about the ‘richest’ bikathon so far conducted in the country, which was the 2011 Camsur Tour held in April. The nine-day bikefest sponsored by Gov. Villafuerte awarded a total of P4.7M in cash prizes to the winners with two of our provincemates, Mapandan son-in law Irish Valenzuela and Asingan born Baler Ravina, emerged as the top two victors, pocketing P500,000 and P300,000, respectively, excluding the huge stage prizes that they won. I thought that would be the biggest this year but I recently learned that an even bigger one in terms of prizes is in the offing. This is the newly-founded multistage bicycle race called “LBC Ronda Pilipinas”. Reports reaching me say that the bikefest is ready to commence on September 24 and to last until October 9 with P7 million at stake, with a tax-free P1 million prize for the individual winner and another P1 million to the team champion.

Wow. I would say this is almost unbelievable because the sponsoring company, LBC Express Inc., never involved itself in cycling before. The truth is, it’s the business rival of Air 21, which has always been at the limelight in sports competitions like PBA and the Padyak Pinoy bikathon.

LBC Express president Fernando Araneta said the event will be run in 12 days with a total distance of 1,650 kilometers, starting from Cagayan de Oro City and will traverse the crucial mountain stages of Baguio City until it breezes to the finish line in Metro Manila.

What also impressed me was the amount of stage prizes that LBC is giving away: daily stage prizes of P50,000 for the winner, second P25,000, third P15,000, and fourth P10,000. That’s a total of P130,500 to be given per day going to the top 20 placers, aside from some other special prizes.

Araneta also said that the second placer up to the 10th placer for team and individual honor will receive P500.000, P250,000, P125,000, P100,000, P90,000, P80,000, P70,000, P60,000 and P50,000 each, respectively. All 16 participating teams will receive a minimum amount of P50,000 and even the weakest individual rider minimum will get P5,000.

A new millionaire will emerge from the present crop of national cyclists led by our local bets whom I believe are still the favorites. The mission will be tough for the select field of 96 pedal pushers assembled into 16 teams with our province fielding two squads, the East Pangasinan led by 2006 Padyak Pinoy champ Santy Barnachea of Umingan and the Central-West Pangasinan skippered by 2003 Tour Pilipinas titlist Arnel Quirimit of Pozorrubio. Unfortunately, two of our best Pangasinan riders are with the 7-Eleven Team, namely Ericson Obosa of Manaoag and Sherwin Carrera of San Fabian. This squad will not be a pushover and will actually be a big threat for individual and team honor.

Let’s watch them and cheer.

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I attended (as spectator) the province board members session held on July 4th at the capitol building. I’m glad to hear from BM Ranjit Shahani that he is pushing provincial resolution number 780 asking his colleagues to approve Pangasinan bid to host the 2012 Palarong Pambansa. During my brief chitchat with him, Shahani admitted that the province of Laguna is our archrival in the bid and we have a 50-50 chance. The last time we hosted the annual games was in 1995 and was held at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center. 

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.” And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. And Adam said: “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.” GENESIS 2: 18, 21-23

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