2012 LBC Ronda Pilipinas begins in Sarangani

By BEVERLY C. PAOYON ALABEL, Sarangani (May 22, 2012) – The Philippines’ longest cycling race hits the roads of Sarangani beginning Wednesday (May 23) with a team time trial from the picturesque Provincial Capitol to barangay Tuyan in Malapatan town and back, a prologue to Thursday’s first leg of the 2,077-km. national bike tour from Sarangani to Luzon. LBC, the country’s foremost courier firm, is adding four more laps from last year’s 1,650-km. route where 96 riders comprising the 16 teams from all over the country will race on May 23 for the time trial. 2012 Ronda’s newest route will also be the preliminary phase of the race kicking-off with the 20-km. team time trial. “If you are a biker or know bikers who want to try the time trial for the fun ride of LBC Ronda tomorrow, please be at the Sarangani Capitol,” said Michelle Solon, chair of the regional tourism council. Gunstart is 12:55pm. “Sports activities naturally gravitate to Sarangani. From paragliding to road biking, LBC Ronda starts in Sarangani tomorrow,” Solon said. The actual race, according to LBC South Cotabato-Sarangani-General Santos area head Lauro Pacres, will be staged starting from General Santos City to the coastal highway going to Kiamba and back on Thursday. While on Friday, the 3rd leg will set off from GenSan to Davao City, passing through another town of Sarangani, Malungon. Pacres said Ronda’s race directors pointed out “the best road in this tour is the GenSan-Kiamba part” where the 183-km. route passes through a well-paved highway. This road has passed “international quality,” he noted. The tour will see both Sarangani Bay – where 50 swimmers conquered a 15-km. crossing in open sea during the recent Sarangani Bay Festival – and the hills of Seguil in Maasim where sky sports paragliding is becoming popular. For her part, Solon, who also chairs the Sarangani tourism council, said “Sarangani is really an area for sports tourism. We have different sports happening in the area. Our roads are very good to do road biking so it’s a perfect area to Ronda.” Solon said “sports tourism is becoming more of a lifestyle. Many people now are wanting to be healthier and travelling, doing activities that keep their bodies healthy and fit. It is fortunate for us, thank you to LBC, they have considered doing it in Sarangani as the starting point.” Solon added Sarangani “has a lot of potentials where something as big as LBC Ronda can organize.” But more of her anticipation is the good thing for Ronda to “dispel people’s perception about Mindanao because they will be passing thru every area from Sarangani all the way to Davao, Butuan, Surigao… where the peace and order condition is not really bad." (Beverly C. Paoyon/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)