Big name riders begin bid of earning Tour of Luzon spots

MANILA, Philippines – Philippine cycling’s top riders begin their quest of earning spots in the 2010 Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers Association (LPGMA)-Tour of Luzon when the summer spectacle begins its first qualifying race on Sunday. The first of the four-part qualifying race begins at 1:00 p.m. at the Diosdado Macapagal Highway in Pasay City. Qualifying races will also be held in Tagaytay City (August), Sierra Madre (October) and back in Macapagal Highway on December. John Marc Guevarra, who won the Tour of Luzon during its revival this year, will join hands with Sprint King Sherwin Diamsay in leading champion team Road Bike Philippines in the qualifying stages. Other elite riders who will see action in the 80-kilometer criterium races are King of the Mountain Baler Ravina, Arnel Quirimit, Santy Barnachea, Merculio Ramos, Warren Davadilla and Oscar Rindole. A separate race will be held for beginners and executive riders. LPGMA president Arnel Ty said the top 100 riders after the qualifying series will make it to the roster of next year’s Tour of Luzon, which will be modified to a 15-stage final from its seven-stage edition last April. The Philippine National Cycling Association (PNCA), led by its president Paquito Rivas and Caloy Gredonia, will again manage the race where bigger prizes await the winners. – GMANews.TV