98 Tour ng Pilipinas PREVIEW
Salog Inc.
Manila Times
<http://www.portalinc.com/manilatimes>
The Men of Summer
Tour ng Pilipinas Preview
By Frederick M. Nasiad, Contributing Editor
Starting in Cebu City where the first Filipino resistance against European
aggression took place and culminating in Luneta where the man who fired up
the Filipinos' desire for freedom was put to death, the 1998 Tour ng
Pilipinas aims to relive the events and rekindle the memories leading to the
Philippine indepence a hundred years ago. Only this time, the battle will be
fought in a different war zone.
Dubbed as the 1998 Marlboro Centennial Tour ng Pilipinas, the 16-stage,
19-lap and 2,494-kilometer cycling extravaganza takes off on April 15 with
the four-kilometer individual time trial (ITT) prologue along Osme–a and
Jones Boulevards in Cebu City and ends with an 80-km criterium in Luneta
Park, Manila on May 2.
The first two stages of the annual race will be held in Cebu City where
Stage 1, a 170-km grind, taking the Cebu-Bogo-Cebu route and the 135-km
second stage plying the Cebu-Argao-Cebu route.
From the queen city of the south, the Tour shifts to the island of Luzon
where the steep hills of Tagaytay City in Stage 3 provides the first of
eight mountain sorties which ends in three difficult climbing stages in the
country's summer capital--Baguio City.
Fitting climax
"We have designed the tour such that the leader board can undergo major
reshuffling even towards the end of the race," said Marlboro Tour chief
organizer Cornelio Padilla Jr. "Three difficult mountain climbing stages for
three consecutive days will be the fitting climax of this tour."
In the 12th stage, the riders blaze through 160 kms of highways and winding
roads before giving all they have for the lap's final stretch-- a 35-km
steep climb to Baguio City through Naguilian Road.
But there's more.
The following day, the cavalcade prepares for the crucial 13th stage--the
grueling Baguio-to-Baguio killer lap--a 200 km race down Marcos Highway,
going up to Baguio via Naguilian Road, down again on Marcos Highway and
ending up in the Pines City via Kennon Road.
Customary, the rider who rules the Baguio to Baguio stage ends up taking the
Tour's throne. Last year Victor Espiritu duplicated the back-breaking feat
that made him the toast of the 1996 Tour by dominating the 199.7-km Baguio
to Baguio eighth stage by a wide margin but a clever rider from Hong Kong
named Wong Kam Po caught up with Espiritu in the penultimate lap and
eventually dethroning the Filipino rider wearing the No.1 jersey.
Killer lap
Perhaps a plus factor for a climber like Espiritu this year is having the
200-km killer lap at the 13th stage. That only leaves three short stages for
the rest of the field to catch up with the Tour's two-time king of the
mountain, that is, if he continues to dominate the pivotal lap.
But Wong, who placed second to Espiritu in the killer lap, won't surrender
his crown to anyone on a silver platter. The 25-year-old defending champ,
like Espiritu, is accustomed to hill climbing but edged the latter in
equipment and experience.
Meanwhile, the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), cycling's world's
governing body which supervised last year's Marlboro Tour, gave the
country's oldest and grandest cycling classic a high mark of 88.5 percent
for efficient organization and the overall performance of its competitors.
"For an international first-timer (last year) it is definitely a good
grade," Padilla said.
Higher rating
Likewise, Tour competitors, including Filipino cyclists, will now have the
chance to get into the world rankings. The Union Cycliste Internationale has
given this year's Tour a 2.5 classification which will allow participants to
earn points for stage wins and boost their world rankings. UCI points serves
as basis for world rankings.
Aside from the Tour ng Pilipinas, which has a 2.6 rating last year, only
nine other multi-stage races in the Asia-Australia region have a 2.5
classification.
The Marlboro Tour, surpassed only by the Tour de France, Giro Italia and
Vuelta Espa–a in terms of distance covered and difficulty, is considered as
the longest and toughest in Asia which includes the 14-day Tour de Langkawi
and the 13-day Tour of China.
For the record, long-distance, multiple-stage cycling in the Philippines
dates back to 1955 during the first Philippine tobacco festival.
The four-day, 418-kilometer Tour of Manila-Vigan race lured in 71
eager-beavers including eventual winner Antonio Arzala, newspaper courier of
the old Manila Times. However, 15 riders failed the medical exam and 12
others backed out leaving 46 participants in this historic event.
The early races were initially confined to the island of Luzon but it has
since evolved into an odyssey across the entire archipelago. And last year,
the Tour, which was sponsored solely by Marlboro since 1979, opened its
doors to Asia for the first time. Thus, finally fulfilling Marlboro's dream
of elevating the Tour into an international event with full accreditation
from UCI.
Best bets
At the forefront of reclaiming the glory that was once Filipino is the
Philippine Team, a select group of six young riders led by team captain
Espiritu.
Last year, the Filipinos experienced a nightmare as the South Korean team,
led by eight-stage winner Ji Sung-Hwang, walked away with the team title.
Wong Kam Po of Hong Kong, whose exploits in the 37.8 km Gapan, Nueva Ecija
to Sta. Ana Pampanga individual time trial race stole the yellow jersey from
the highly touted Espiritu, edged the soldier from Malabon by a minute and
19 seconds for the Tour's top individual honors.
This year, the RP team, determined and well-motivated, vowed to turn the
country's premiere cycling event into a glowing symbol of Filipino
excellence.
Backed by 1996 runner-up Arnel Querimit, Enrique Domingo, Carlo Jazul,
Warren Davadilla and returnee Gerardo Amar, Espiritu wages war against crack
riders from Hong Kong, Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan and newcomer China along
with eight Filipino regional teams.
Not even the last-minute pullout of South Korea is not enough guarantee that
life should be easier for the local bets.
South Korea, which ruled half of the laps staked last year, informed Padilla
two weeks ago of the pullout through its national cycling federation, citing
"circumstances beyond our control."
But in its place will be China, a country with a rich winning tradition in
Asian cycling who is competing for the first time in the Marlboro Tour.
Well prepared
"Alam naman namin na malalakas and kalaban, pero pinaghandaan rin namin
sila," said Espiritu, who made cycling history two years ago by becoming the
event's first amateur champion.
Padilla agrees with the RP team skipper.
"Maganda 'yung preparasyon nila (Filipino riders) ngayon. Unlike in the past
years na pagkatapos ng (nakaraang) Tour ay pahinga muna at magre-resume lang
ng training mga January na, tuloy-tuloy na," Padilla said. "The Korean team
and of course, Wong showed us last year what they are capable of doing. And
from what I heard so far, China should also be a force to reckon with this
year. Sa dinami-dami ba naman ng pagpipilian nila, I'm sure they can come up
with good athletes in any sport,"
Judging from the RP team's performance in the recently concluded Tour De
Langkawi in Malaysia, the Philippine team looks armed and ready to do battle
with Asia's best riders.
Not only did the Filipinos hold their own against tough clubs from Italy,
Russia and the United States in the Malaysian race, they also stood out over
other Asian teams-most of whom they would see again in the Centennial Tour.
In leading the Filipinos to the East Asian title, and a 10th place finish
overall, Querimit came in 31st, Espiritu 35th, Jazul 55th, Domingo 67th,
Davadilla 72nd and Amar 81st.
Additionally, Jazul stole the show from his more celebrated rivals when he
made a solid run in the 176-km seventh lap only to be beaten at the endline
by American Chad Gerlach and second placer Peter Rogers of Australia.
Gerlach, Rogers and Jazul, however, recorded the same time of 3 hours 53
minutes and 58 seconds. It is the highest stage finish by an Asian rider in
an event long dominated by Europeans.
"I think magkakaisa sila (RP team) ngayon to ensure na isa sa kanila ang
mananalo. Nasampal kasi sila last year kaya biglang nagising," Padilla
agreed. "Pinoy na ngayon (ang mananalo sa Tour)."
Team crown
Unlike in last year's edition, the Filipinos will now be facing tougher
competitions this time since the RP team, the five foreign teams and the
eight regional teams will now be clashing for only one team crown.
Padilla said they decided to replace the old format with two team
classifications--a national competition for the regional teams and the
international where the RP squad battled the foreigners--because of the
excellent performance last year of the local riders. This would give local
teams a chance against their foreign counterparts. To give local riders a
better chance, Tour organizers likewise cancelled the team time trials,
where regional teams have yet to show superiority.
Also, to level the race further, the Centennial Tour allows only standard or
production bicycles in the individual time trials (prologue, Stage 9 and
Stage 14). However, aerobars and specialty wheels will still be allowed in
the ITT.
The Centennial Sprint, a highlight of this year's tour as part of the
celebration of 100 years of Philippine independence, is also expected to
further raise the level of competition in every stage.
While the mighty Koreans ruled the international derby, Northern Luzon,
towed by two-time Tour champion Carlo Guieb, topped the national event.
In fact, five other regional teams (Pangasinan, Nueva Ecija, Southern Luzon
and Visayas) posted faster team times than Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong
and Japan last year.
"This means magkaka-level ang competition ng regional teams with the best of
Asia. So now we just have a team general classification where the local
teams can have an opportunity to earn more," said Padilla, a back-to-back
winner of the Tour (1966-67).
Foreign challenge
In the absence of the Koreans, defending champion Wong Kam Po, Chinese
Xuezang Tang and Indonesian Tonton Susanto should be the riders to watch.
Wong, the Tour's first foreign winner, proved last year that he has the
power, the stamina and the guts to win the fabled race despite wearing the
green jersey of the stage winner and the yellow jersey of the overall leader
only once in 17 stages.
Wong placed strong second in the Tour of Taiwan last February and in the
170-km individual road race during the Asian Cycling Championship in Tehran,
Iran, last June.
Wong's mile-long list of titles also includes the 1997 Tour of South China
Sea, 1996 China National Cycling Championships (where he bagged two gold
medals), 1996 Tour de Taiwan, 1995 Tour de Okinawa and the 1991 Asian Junior
Cycling Championships in Beijing.
He is the only Marlboro Tour rider who currently has UCI points. He earned
his points from his European stints.
Susanto, who ruled last year's Solano to Banaue 13th stage, edged Espiritu
in the 40-km road race in the Jakarta Southeast Asian Games and had a better
finish than the nationals in the Tour de Langkawi in Malaysia. The
Indonesian later was stripped of the gold medal when he was tested positive
for a banned substance.
However, Susanto, has already served out his six-month suspension and is now
ready to improve on his fifth place finish here last summer.
"Tonton Susanto should also be a thorn (aside from Wong) on the side of
Filipino riders. He is a veteran, and I heard he has improved a lot since he
last came here," Padilla said.
Not to be outdone, the regional teams beefed up their own ranks to stay
abreast with the international teams.
Regional strength
Leading the pack are Renato Dolosa's Southern Luzon, Carlo Guieb's Northern
Luzon and Placido Valdez's Nueva Ecija squads.
Dolosa, a two-time Tour champion (1992, 1995) and a two-time runner-up
(1990, 1993), is the lone star of the Ayala Land-sponsored Southern Luzon
squad but they have prepared for the Tour for nearly a year now.
Dolosa's Marlboro Tour seasoned teammates are Leonardo Basibas, his deputy,
Michael Gonowon and rookies Manuel Mendoza, Rayzon Galdonez and Virgilio
Espiritu.
All three newcomers have Tour veterans in their lineage. Mendoza's father
Ruben and Galdonez's father Rolando were both survivors of the Tour of
Luzon, predecessor of the Marlboro Tour. Virgilio is the younger brother of
Victor.
Guieb, a back-to-back Tour winner (1993-94) spearheaded Northern Luzon in
towing six regional teams last year which posted faster team times than four
other foreign squads.
Only the Koreans and the RP team had better aggregate clocking.
Northern Luzon boasts of having two talented rookies in its line up, Ryan
Tanguilig and Darwin Marana. Also returning to beef up Guieb's crack squad
are his uncle and grizzled veteran Ariel Marana, Jessie Bacudo and sophomore
Mario Tolentino.
Considered as the dark horse once more are Placido Valdez and his Nueva
Ecija team. Helping Valdez, who placed second twice (1994, 1995) and third
thrice (1992, 1993, 1997), in the team's cause are the young and promising
Bernard Luzon and Neil Barlis who are expected to share the limelight with
the grizzled veteran.
Backed by Khumbmela, the Nueva Ecija team also banners four reliable
domestics in Valeriano Valdez, Albert Primero and Artemio Capulong.
While the foreign riders aim, more than anything else, to earn UCI points
and scale the UCI rankings, local bets join Asia's longest and oldest
travelling sports cavalcade for an opportunity to reap more money than they
could possibly earn in their respective day jobs.
For them farmers, drivers, newpaper couriers, working students and military
men, this is harvest time. The Tour is their ticket to fortune and instant
fame.
But is this once-in-a-year bikathon worth the agony and pain?
Last year's figures would tell us that it is.
Money winners
The RP squad, despite finishing runner-up to Korea, got the biggest slice of
the cake, earning P1,511,478.35 thanks to Espiritu, Querimit and Domingo who
crashed the top 10 of the individual money list.
Espiritu's Tour earnings of P539,596 was surpassed only by Wong, who
pocketed a Tour-best P685,285.71.
Ji Sung Hwang of South Korea, despite placing eighth in the general
classification, was third in the money list with P332,000. Together with Jun
Dae Hong, who is at No.6 in earnings, they towed the Korean team to second
place in the team's money list. Korea went home with P1,413,436.69 in the
bank.
Valdez, who fell three minutes and 43 seconds short of bagging his first
Tour title, was fourth in earnings with P322,950.49. His Nueva Ecija team,
however, failed to catch up with Guieb's Northern Luzon's prize winnings.
Nueva Ecija had P770,923.97 while Northern Luzon raked in P876,768.40.
Guieb, who place fourth in the race's overall standings, was fifth in the
money list with P280,450.97.
Rounding up last year's top 10 money earners are Susanto (P216,494.05),
Dolosa (P195,306.55), Querimit (P161,914.77), Domingo (P138,598.21) and Amar
(P100,306.55).
And with this year's total pot pegged by Marlboro at P9,283,250 (slightly up
from last year's P9,219,250) and the top individual prize set at P500,000,
the 1998 Centennial Tour promises to bring to the Filipinos, and now to the
rest of Asia, the same excitement and thrill it has been delivering since
1955.
Make no mistake. For 19 days this summer, these riders who brave the
blistering heat of the sun are the stars. They are admired and cheered by
their countrymen. And now, as the country celebrates its hundredth year of
independence, these gallant Filipinos will be the modern day heroes that
will hoist the national colors high against the Asian opponents.
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