A race that attracted more than 15,000 cyclists in its maiden two-stage run in 2018 is back and bigger than ever.
Larga Pilipinas, a cycling event billed as a ‘race for all,' is back after a seven-year hiatus.
Drawing inspiration from the successful return of the Tour of Luzon, Larga Pilipinas has bared plans for a six-day, six-stage race for professional and elite riders dubbed as “Race to the Northern Alps' set from August 2 to 7.
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Around 70 pro riders are expected to take on the challenge of two sprint stages and four punishing mountain climbs in this event supported by 888 Horsemen Group, Inc, Viva Premiere Gaming, Red Dynasty Seafood and Hotpot Restaurant, Phenom Sportswear, Starhorse Shipping Lines, Chickyfam, Midas Smart Resources Corp, PCSO Scratchit, Go for Gold , Surecomm Wireless Communications and sanctioned by PhilCycling.
“This is a very technical and carefully planned race wherein we will give premium to sprinters on the first two stages before we test the cyclists power and stamina up in the mountains,” said Larga Pilipinas chairman Atty Froi Dayco.
In what could be a fitting finale for a successful cycling year, Larga Pilipinas will kick off with a 197-km Cabanatuan to Cabanatuan Stage 1, to be followed by the Cabanatuan to Mangaldan, Pangasinan Stage 2 that will go through the cycling hotbed of Nueva Ecija, Tarlac and Pangasinan.
Stage 3 will connect Mangaldan and Bayombong in Nueva Vizcaya, passing through the dreaded Malico Zigzag in San Nicolas, Pangasinan and Sta. Fe.
A Bayombong to Banaue, Ifugao climb is featured in Stage 4, before another scenic Banaue to Sagada, Mountain Province ride. The multi-stage race then concludes at Burnham Park in Baguio City for the sixth stage.
“This is a very unique route and will definitely arouse the curiosity of cycling fans. Kakakayanin nga ba ito ng tao? Well, sabi sa amin ng mga cycling, coaches at riders ‘basta’t may daan, kaya yan’, so let’s go,” said UCI elite commissaire Sunshine Joy Vallejos.
Aside from the race for the elites, Larga Pilipinas will feature no-registration-fee criterium and ITT races for women, amateurs, hobbyists, corporate executives, ex-pros, MTB and fixed gear riders.
“Before the pandemic came, we were able to attract almost 20,000 cyclists in our Larga Pilipinas race in Marikina and EDSA-C5 in 2018. Paano pa ngayon? Baka doble o triple yan,” said Snow Badua, Larga Pilipinas Operations Director.
“We are doing this because we want to further push the popularity of the sport, we all learned to play first. Cycling is an underrated sport, but it should rank at the Top 3 most popular sports in the country,” he added while announcing the opening of registration for their People’s Race via largapilipinas.com.
“This is for free, this is for cycling and we hope more sponsors will come in to help us in this cause. Sikat ang cycling and this is a very powerful marketing tool. Imagine, the length of each stage is an advertising medium for your products,” added the Larga Pilipinas executive.
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