THE top road bike racers from all over the country will start their quest for glory when the Padyak Pinoy Summer Showdown cycling race hits the road at the Mall of Asia in Manila today.
Ushering in the grueling 10-day, 10-stage grind is the Individual Time Trial prologue around the Mall of Asia followed by the 119.7-kilometer Stage Two from Quezon City to Cabanatuan City tomorrow.
The third stage, which is a 123.3-kilometer grind, will be from Cabanatuan to Alaminos, Pangasinan followed by Stage Four, a 163.7-kilometer race from Alaminos City to Vigan
May 22 will be a rest day for the cyclists before Stage Five unfolds the following day from Vigan to Laoag, which is 194.9 kilometers long.
Stage Six is set from Laoag to San Fernando, La Union followed by the San Fernando to Baguio Stage Seven via Marcos Highway and the killer Baguio to Baguio Stage Eight.
After the mountain stages, the race goes downhill towards Clark, Angeles, and will cap off with a criterium in Roxas Boulevard for the 10th stage.
The Visayas-Mindanao team is composed of Tour Pilipinas campaigner Robert Villaber, who is the team captain and his assistant Nilo Barbalose. (JSV)
