Tour of Cebu South cycling fires off today

CYCLISTS from in and around the region will be flocking to Cebu today as the Grandia de Mayo-Suroy Suroy Sugbu “The Tour of Cebu South” kicks off today for a two-day, three-stage race starting in Talisay City and ending in Sibonga town, southern Cebu on Sunday.

The event will be composed of a road race and a team time trial.

The route of the first stage, which will be a 70 kilometer road race, will take racers through Talisay, Minglanilla, Naga, San Fernando, Carcar, Barili, Dumanjug, Ronda and Alcantara.

The second stage, which is a team time trial as well as an individual time trial for the open, golden and junior categories, will have racers going through Alcantara, Moalboal, Badian and Kawasan Falls.

The third stage, a road race, will have them go through Badian, Alegria, Malabuyoc, Samboan, Santander, Oslob, Boljoon, Alcoy, Dalaguete, Argao and Sibonga for a total of 170 kilometers.

The categories are Open, composed of the age groups, 20-36 and 37-49; the Golden category for 50 years old and above and the Juniors for 12-19 year olds. There’s also the Executives class composed of the age groups, 24-36 and 37-49 as well as a newbies sub-class for first-timers and tri-athletes hoping to improve on their biking skills.

According to race organizer and director, Mae Ojales, participants from Dipolog, Ormoc, Manila and Bohol have already signed up.

Interested participants can still register at the assembly area at 6 a.m. today in Talisay. Race starts at 8 a.m. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio