Better road, better race

ALTHOUGH it has received the most positive responses from participants, there are still some areas to improve on for a better staging of the Ironman 70.3 Philippines next year.

There were several recommendations given and on top of the list is the improvement of the roads.

Triathlon Association of the Philippines (Trap) executive director Oscar “Boying” Rodriguez, who is the local counterpart of the organizing committee of the international race, said this should be the main concern.

“There are uneven pavements that need to be improved,” Rodriguez said.

Pro division champion Pete Jacobs said after the race that everything about the race—from the ocean swim, the Tour-de-France-like supportive crowd, even the heat—was amazing except for small sections on the road they passed during the bike segment that need to be worked on.

The road condition was the reason why Jacobs lost a good lead. He was maintaining a good headway but lost his momentum when he passed by several potholes. He, however, kept his composure to eventually win his third straight title in the Ironman Philippines.

Rodriguez said that they will schedule a meeting with the department heads of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to talk about this.

Rodriguez also added that they are planning to talk and negotiate with Filinvest Land, Inc. regarding the use of the road within their beach front property at the South Road Properties as part of the 90K bike route.

This year, they only used one lane of the South Road Properties (SRP) main road leading to Talisay City. Filinvest owns about 50 hectares of the SRP.

Meanwhile, with the road closure last Sunday, Rodriguez commended Lapu-Lapu City Traffic Management System Chief Frank Brazil, Traffic Enforcement Agency of Mandaue City (Team) head Major Edwin Ermac, Cebu Traffic Operation Management’s Atty. Rafael Yap and Talisay City’s Traffic Management and Enforcement CT-TODA head Gerard Lariego for being able to control the traffic.

“I take my hat off to the four of them. We received minimal complaints. They did a very good job,” Rodriguez said.

He described the four individuals and the rest of the unnamed volunteers, especially the 25,000 well-wishers, as unsung heroes for making the debut of the Ironman 70.3 Philippines in the Island of Cebu a success.