Princess Galura (left to right) of Sunrise Events; Mark Tolentino, Provincial Administrator; Congressman Red Durano; Danny Roble, Danao Tourism Officer; and Dr. Peter Mancao, Xterra Danao Medical Director, show the race jersey and medals for the upcoming Xterra Philippines, which will be held on April 23 in Danao City, northern Cebu. (CDN PHOTO/CHRISTIAN MANINGO)
With the event just a month away, preparations are already in full swing for Danao City’s hosting of the XTerra Philippines Off-Road Triathlon.
Stakeholders of the international race gathered yesterday at the Coco Palms Resort, the official venue of the race, to officially launch the event scheduled on April 23.
The race is expected to draw around 500 foreign and local triathletes.
The race will give the city opportunity to showcase not just its internationally renowned mountain bike courses but its tradition and culture as well.
The city has been known for years as a sports tourism destination in Cebu as its boasts one of the bests and most technical mountain bike courses in the country where several international mountain bike races.
Fifth District Representative Red Durano IV promised the visitors and participants a memorable and great experience.
“This will go down as the most memorable and the greatest XTerra race. It’s a huge privilege for us in Danao to host this international triathlon race and we will do our best to make this a very successful event,” said Durano.
Durano was joined in the launching by Princess Galura, the general manager of Sunrise Events Inc. (SEI), Department of Tourism Region VII Officer Judy Gabato, race’s medical director Dr. Peter Mancao and Cebu Provincial Administrator Atty. Mark Tolentino.
“We will showcase what Danao’s known for and it is pottery and also we would like to introduce our culture and tradition through our Karansa Festival to the visitors and participants. Everyone here in the city is preparing for the race with the help of the Cebu provincial government,” added Durano, who will compete in the bike portion of the relay category.
The race according to Galura is part of the XTerra World Championships qualifiers. The World Championships is scheduled in October in Maui, Hawaii.
Some of the world’s best off-road triathletes will compete for the $15,000 top purse while Asian elite participants in male and female categories will battle for the P120,000 prize.
More that 200 triathletes have already enlisted for the race. Online registration is still going on.
“We are targeting around 300 to 500 triathletes. The bulk of triathletes are expected to register a month before the race especially Cebuano triathletes who usually register late,” said Galura.
Professional triathletes such as Bradley Weiss, Ben Allen, Sam Osborne, Takahiro Ogasawara, Kieran Mcpherson, Brodie Gardner, Taylor Charlton, Jacky Boisset, Jacqui Slack, Myriam Guillot-Boisset, Carina Wasle and Jessica Koltz will vie in the pro category.
The standard distance of the race offers a 1.5-kilometer swim, 40k off-road bike and 10k trail run while the XTerra lite category will have a 750m swim, 20k bike and 5k run. There will also be a duathlon category, which will have a 3k run, 20k bike and 5k run.
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