BAGUIO CITY (PIA) – – The City Government of Baguio, through the City Tourism Office and in partnership with various city stakeholders, gears up for the Le Tour Filipinas 2015, a professional/international cycling race set this February 1 to 4 that will be joined by 15 teams, two locals and 13 foreign nationals.
City Tourism Officer Benedicto Alhambra called a meeting early today with officials from various city government departments, regional line agencies and private partners and stakeholders to iron-out the needed preparations for the race which will have its finish line and awarding at the Baguio Convention Center on February 4.
Alhambra, in the said meeting, discloses that Le Tour Filipinas 2015 will again be a big event for Baguio which is already becoming a sports and adventure tourism hub.
He discloses that there will be around 60 cyclists from 15 teams – two locals and 13 foreign teams coming from Asian, European and Middle East countries that will be joining and together with their support groups it will also be a good opportunity for the city’s tourism and business sector.
Being supported by AIR 21 of the Lina Group of Companies and the Department of Tourism, Le Tour Filipinas will be a four-stage, 532.5 kilometer race from the coastal roads of Balanga, Bataan up to the mountain trails of Kennon road that leads to Baguio City.
The race will start on February 1 with the 126 km. Balanga to Balanga, Bataan leg; to be followed by the Balanga to Iba Zambales (154.70kms) race on day 2; then stage three will be the 150.10 kms Iba to Lingayen, Pangasinan; and lastly will be the 101.70 kilometers uphill race from Lingayen to Baguio City, via Kennon road on February 4.
With Pangabenga 2015, set to start this February 1, the Le Tour Filipinas will also be included in the Baguio Flower Festival’s calendar of activities.
Aside from tourism promotion of Baguio City and the other host cities/provinces of Balanga Bataan, Iba Zambales and Lingayen Pangasinan, Alhambra also pointed-out that the race would be a big opportunity for our local cyclists to gain experience and improve their competitiveness against foreign counterparts.
The defending champion from Le Tour Filipinas 2014 was a Filipino, in the person of Mark John lexer Galedo, he said. (CCD – PIA CAR)