CEBU Governor Hilario Davide III announced that the bike phase of the Ironman 70.3 Asia Pacific Championships will traverse the roads of the cities of Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu only.
The governor received the information from Sunrise Events, Inc. (SEI), the organizers of the annual triathlon event, through Provincial Administrator Mark Tolentino.
“I spoke with Atty. Tolentino, and he said that the organizers had already found an alternative — the bikers will pass by the first Mactan-Mandaue bridge,” Davide said.
Davide said that he will convene with the members of the Mactan Cebu Bridge Management Board (MCBMB) to act on the request to use the bridge for the sporting event.
Davide told media reporters that the organizers need to respect the decision of Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña and Liloan town Mayor Christina
Garcia-Frasco not to allow participants of Ironman to pass by Liloan and Cebu City due to traffic concerns.
SEI general manager Princess Galura confirmed the development and said the group will come up with a map of the route as soon as possible.
“We’re posting it tomorrow or Thursday, but yes, we have a final route. We will make an announcement tomorrow or Thursday as the latest,” she said.
The bike phase of Ironman was held along portions of the Cebu South Coastal Road (CSCR) in previous years. /With a report from Glendale G. Rosal