Ocular inspection (CDN PHOTO/LITO TECSON)
An ocular inspection of the entire 90-km bike route for the Cobra Energy Drink Ironman 70.3 Philippines had organizers saying that everything’s in place for the Aug. 3 opening day.
Cebu Provincial Administrator Mark Tolentino said the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will cover the potholes found near Plaridel Street at the Sergio Osmeña highway from Kaohsiung road in the North Reclamation Area.
“Actually we are already prepared for Sunday’s race we will just have to patch up the potholes along Sergio Osmeña highway a few days before the race day,” Tolentino said.
He said the Cebu City Animal Pound Center and the Cebu City Traffic Operations Management (Citom) will take care of the stray dogs that may disturb the bikers passing through Palma Road entering the South Road Properties (SRP).
Tolentino said traffic agencies in the cities of Cebu, Lapu-Lapu, Talisa and Mandaue were reminded to handle traffic flow on race day.
Road closure
The race will start and finish at the posh Shangri-la Mactan Resort and Spa.
Traffic advisories and the Aug. 3 road closure were already posted in the official Facebook page of the Cobra Energy Drink Ironman 70.3 Philippines.
The race will be participated by 2,500 triathletes from 40 countries around the world.
The 90-km bike course covers major roads like the ML Quezon Avenue in Lapu-lapu City, Marcelo Fernan Bridge, North Reclamation Area, S. Osmeña highway and the SRP stretching to Talisay City.
The 1.9 km swim will traverse the Hilutungan Strait while the 21km-run will cover Punta Engano.
Road etiquette
“I just hope the weather will cooperate with us on Sunday,” the race’s technical chief, Neville Manaois, said.
Manaois reminded the participants to be vigilant when traversing the bike course especially along the S. Osmeña highway where most of the potholes can be found.
“The best way to prevent accident on race day is to practice road etiquette and obey the rules and regulations of the race,” Manaois said.
Sunrise Events Inc.’s (SEI) project director Princess Galura asked the public to be patient with the traffic that may be caused by the event.
“Let’s not look at the inconvenience caused by road closures but the tourism and the employment opportunities to be generated by the event,” Galura said.
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